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tihxaxy  of  t:he  theological  ^tmxnavy 

PRINCETON  .  NEW  JERSEY 

FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
ROBERT  ELLIOTT  SPEER 


BX  9211  .P45601  F506  1888 
Greensburg  (Pa. ) • 

Presbyterian  Church. 
Proceedings  of  the 

centennial  celebration  of 


^ 


he^oslouro     r^,         ..--s-f"    ri'^^loy+e^i^v-*    <i[\v\rJL , 


1788. 


1888. 


ZPISOCEEZDin^TO-f 


OF 


V 


PffJJ^ 


OF    THE 


FED    2  1959 


». 


^Logical  st^' 


CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION 


OF    THE 


PRESBYTERIRN  CHURCH 


OF 


GREENSBURG,  PENN'A.. 


HELD 


April  14th,  15th,  16th,  and  17th,  1888, 

Embracing  the  General  History  of  the  Church;    History  of 

THE  Several  Pastorates;  Letters  from  Absent  Friends, 

AND  Reminiscences  by  Friends  who  were  Present. 


GREENSBURG,  PA.: 
Argus  and  Tribune  and  Herald,  Printers. 

1888. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 
Preface.  --.....■, 

A  general  history  of  the  church,  by  the  pastor.         .          .           .  g 

A  sketch  of  the  first  pastorate,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Speer  D.  D.     -  37 

Historical  address,  by  Rev.  Jas.  I.  Brownson  D.  D.          -         -  55 
The  life  and  character  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith  D.  D.,  by  Rev.  Jas 

P.  Smith. 67 

Rev.  W.  H.  Gill's  pastorate,  by  Rev.  W.   H.  Gill.      -         -         -  71 

The  present  pastorate,  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead.   -         -         -  102 

Letters.           -           -          -          -          -          ....  128 

Reminiscences.         -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -137 

Roll  of  members.         -...-.          .          .  j^y 


PREFACE. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  and  Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Gret  isburg,  held  at  the  parsonage,  April  26,  1887,  ''•  com- 
mittee, consisting;  of  Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  Col.  James  Armstrong, 
D.  VV.  Shryock,  Hon.  J.  R.  McAfee,  and  John  D.  Miller,  was  ap- 
pointed   to  arrange    for    a    celebration    of  the    church's    Centennial. 

The  committee  held  its  first  meeting  September  26,  1887,  and 
organized  by  electing  Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  chairman,  and  D.  W. 
Shryock,  secretary.      The  following  resolutions  were  then  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  inasmuch  as  this  church  was  first  mentioned  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  when  application  was 
made  for  supplies  at  a  meeting  of  that  body,  held  at  the  Mount  Pleas- 
ant church  on  the  15th  of  April,  1788,  we  will,  Deo  volente,  hold  our 
April  communion  services  next  year  on  Sabbath,  the  15th,  and  that 
we  will,  in  due  time,  make  arrangements  for  additional  services  and 
l)roceedings  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  upon  a  week  day  preceding 
or  following  said  Sabbath. 

Resolved,  That  Rev.  Dr.  Moorhead  is  hereby  appointed  and 
recjuested  to  prepare  a  history  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Greens- 
burg,  from  its  organization  up  to  that  date,  to  be  then  read. 

Resolved,  That  all  who  may  be  living  who  were  pastors  of  this 
congregation,  including  those  who  were  pastors  of  the  New  School 
branch,  and  the  sons  and  ^grandsons  (now  in  the  ministry)  of  deceased 
pastors'  be  invited  to  be  present  on  that  occasion,  and  that  they  each 
be  requested  to  prepare  a  brief  history,  having  special  reference  to  the 
incidents  of  the  resj)ective  pastorates  here,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be 
in  the  knowledge  and  possession  of  each,  the  same  to  be  read  and  per- 
manently preserved. 

In  pursuance  of  the  last  resolution,  the  Chairman  wrote  to  Rev. 
James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  W.  D.  Moore,  Esq.,  Rev.  David  Ken- 
nedy, and  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill,  former  pastors  of  the  Old  School  branch, 
and  to  Rev.  W.  W.  Taylor,  of  the  New  School  branch  ;    also  to  Rev 


James  P.  Smith,  son  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  William 
Speer,  D.  D.,  grandson  of  Rev.  William  Speer,  the  first  pastor. 
Favorable  responses  were  received  from  all  of  these. 

In  arranging  for  the  Centennial  communion  in  accordance  with 
the  first  resolution  above,  the  Session  having  agreed  to  invite  Rev. 
James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  to  preach  the  preparatory  sermon  on  Sat- 
urday, Rev.  James  P.  Smith  the  sermon  on  Sabbath  morning,  and 
Rev.  W.  H.  Gill  the  sermon  on  Sabbath  evening,  the  Centennial 
committee  subsequently  approved  of  this  arrangement,  and  it  was 
further  decided  to  hold  the  other  Centennial  exercises  on  the  Monday 
and  Tuesday  following. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  committee,  held  at  the  parsonage,  January 
23,  1888,  the  following  action  was  taken  : 

Inasmuch  as  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville  is  to  meet  here  on 
Tuesday,  the  17th  of  April,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  an  invitation  be  extended  to  each  minister  in 
the  Presbytery  and  to  the  elder  who  is  to  be  a  member  of  that  meet- 
ing, to  be  present  at  the  Centennial  exercises. 

The  following  form  of  invitation  and  program  was  adopted  : 

1788.  18S8. 

The  Session  and  congregation  cordially  invite  you  to  attend  the 
exercises  in  connection  with  the  celebration  of  the 

ONE  HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY 

Of  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian  church,    Greensburg,    Penn- 
sylvania, April  14,  15,  16,  and  17,  1888. 

ORDER  OF  EXERCISES  : 

Saturday,  April  14,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  preparatory  sermon  by 
Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D. 

Sabbath,  April  15,  9:30,  Centennial  Sabbath  school  service. 

10:45  A.  M.,  sermon  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Smith. 

7:30  P.  M.,  sermon  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill. 

Monday,  April  18,  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  general  history  of  the  church, 
by  Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  D.  D.  Historical  sketches  of  the  pastor- 
ates, by  former  pastors  or  their  representatives,  in  the  following 
order:  Rev.  W.  Speer,  D.  D.,  a  grandson  of  the  first  pastor;  Rev. 
James.  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  W.  D.  Moore,  Esq.,  Rev.  James  P. 
Smith,  son  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.;  Rev  W.  H.  Gill. 

Tuesday,  April  17,  9  A.  M.,  historical  sketches,  concluded  by 
Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  D.  D. 

From  10  A.  M.  to  12  M.,  reminiscences  by  members  of  the 
Blairsville  Presbytery  and  other  invited  guests  present. 


William  C.  Peoples,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the  congregation,  was 
selected  as  stenographer  and  requested  to  report  the  proceedings, 
which  he  did. 

The  following  persons  were  appointed  a  committee  to  decorate 
the  church  ;  Ladies — Miss  Priscilla  Jack,  Miss  Lizzie  Armstrong, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Cowan  Hazlett,  Mrs.  Wilson  Eicher,  and  Mrs.  O.  J. 
Palmer.  Gentlemen — Alex.  Conner,  R.  C.  Mullen,  William  Hutch- 
inson, Theodore  Butterfield,  and  Cyrus  N.  Stark. 

The  choir  of  the  church,  whose  names  are  given  elsewhere,  were 
invited  to  furnish  the  music,  which  they  did,  assisted  by  Mr.  N.  M. 
Fenneman,  of  the  First  Reformed  church  ;  Miss  Emma  Bear,  of  the 
Second  Reformed  church,  and  Miss  Bessie  Craig,  of  New  Alexandria. 

At  the  opening  of  the  preparatory  services  on  Saturday,  the 
Sacrament  of  Baptism  was  administered  by  the  pastor.  Two  adults, 
viz  :  Mrs.  Harriet  Lillian  Kimball  and  Mr.  Eugene  F.  Fishel,  were 
baptized.  This  was  followed  by  infant  baptism,  when  the  following 
parents  presented  the  following  named  children  for  baptism  :  Dr.  J. 
W.  and  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Harvey  presented  Mary  Angle  ;  Mrs.  Eleanor 
M.,  wife  of  Alex.  Eicher,  Esq.,  presented  Romaine  McClelland  ;  Dr. 
George  and  Mrs.  Jennie  Culbertson  presented  Alexander  Edward  ; 
Albert  R.  and  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Young  presented  James  Paul  ;  John  T. 
and  Mrs.  Lizzie  K.  Mull  presented  James  Martin,  and  Frank  L  and 
Mrs.  Harriet  Lillian  Kimball  presented  Mary  Caroline.  The  pre- 
paratory sermon  was  then  preached  by  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D. 
Text,  Gal.  iv.,  28.     Subject,  "The  Children  of  Promise." 

On  Sabbath  morning  a  Centennial  Sabbath  school  service  was 
held.  The  schools  were  opened  at  9:30  by  their  respective  superin- 
tendents, Paul  H.  Gaither,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  McAfee.  After 
some  special  opening  exercises,  the  windows  dividing  the  schools 
were  raised,  and  the  two  rooms  were  thrown  into  one.  Addresses 
were  then  delivered  by  Dr.  Brownson,  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill,  Rev.  James 
P.  Smith,  and  Dr.  Speer.  The  exercises  were  then  closed  by  singing 
the  Long  Meter  Doxology. 

The  public  services  began  at  10:45  -^-  ^^-  '^he  choir  rendered  as 
a  voluntary,  "The  Earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fullness  thereof;" 
Offertory,  "Gloria,"  Mozart's  Twelfth  Mass.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  James  P.  Smith.  Text,  John  xiv.,  12.  Subject, 
"Greater  Works."       At  the  conclusion   of    the   sermon,    the  names 


of  persons  received   since  the    last  communion    were  announced,  and 
were  as    follows  : 

RECEIVED  ON  CERTIFICATE. 


Miss  Sarah  Jamison, 
Miss  Jane  Jamison, 
Miss  Amanda  Jamison, 
Mr.  John  T.  Mull, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  K.  Mull, 


Mrs.  S.  A.  McGeary, 
Miss  Mary  J.  McGeary, 
Mrs.  Maria  Walton, 
Mr.  William  McAfee, 
Mrs.  Bathilda  McAfee, 


ON  PROFESSION  OF  FAITH. 


J.  Audley  Black, 
R.  Frank  McCurdy, 
Harry  N.  Yont, 
William  D.  Hays, 
Craig  C.  Meanor, 
John  S.  Lightcap, 
Neta  M.  Scott, 


Aletha  M.  Reed, 

Anna  M.  White, 

Grace  W.  Butterfield, 

Lizzie  Gay, 

Mrs.  Harriet  Lillian   Kimball, 

Eugene  F.  Fishel, 

Mrs.  Anna  Brown. 


All  the  above,  with    two  exceptions,   were  young   unmarried  per- 


sons. 


The  following,  all  young  persons,  received  by  the  Session  but  not 
yet  publicly  received,  then  came  forward  and  made  a  public  con- 
fession of  their  faith  in  Christ  : 


Richard  Coulter,  Jr., 
Pauletta  H.  Guffey, 
Joseph  F.  Guffey, 
William  Colledge, 
Mary  Singer  Moorhead, 
Clara  E.  Dalby, 
Cora  Butterfield, 
Willamina  Johnston, 
Sadie  F.  Bray, 
Sadie  A.  Davis, 
May  Henderson, 
Millie  K.  Wise, 
Fannie  E.  Parks, 
William  W.  Keenan,  Jr., 
Frank  M.  Young, 


Daisie  L.  Best, 
Bella  R.  Hays, 
Clarence  D.  Patterson, 
M.  Gertrude  Bissell, 
Hettie  N.  Brown, 
James  R.  L.  Brown, 
Kate  Millicent  Brown, 
Willie  T.  Naill, 
Edith  O.  Naill, 
Sarah  W.  Bassett, 
Maggie  M.  Cope, 
Jennie  G.  Turney, 
Carrie  M.  Turney, 
Nannie  E.  McFarland, 
Millie  Eyster  Brown. 


After  the  reception  of  members,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  intro- 
duced by  Rev.  E.  H.  Dickinson.  The  blessing  was  asked  and  the 
bread  distributed  by  Rev.  William  Speer,  D.    D.     The    cup    was    dis- 


tributed  and  thanks  returned  by  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D. 
Suitable  remarks  were  interspersed  1)y  Drs.  Speer  and  Brownson  and 
by  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill.  Hie  benediction  was  i)ronounced  by  Rev. 
James  P.  Smith.  All  the  elders  were  i)resent  and  officiated,  except 
Mr.  Boyd,  who  was  kept  at  home  by  serious  illne.ss.  It  is  estimated 
that  over  six  hundred  persons  communed  on  this  occasion. 

On  Sabbath  evening  the  choir  gave  as  a  voluntary,  "Father,  Oh, 
Hear  Us."  Offertory,  "Father  to  Thee."— Millard.  Soprano.  Miss 
Lizzie    Kilgore.      The    sermon    was     preached    by    Rev.    W.  H.  Gill. 

Text,  I    Timothy,  i  :  n  ;   subject,  "The  Glorious  Gospel." 

The  exercises  began  on  Monday,  at  2  P.  M.  Rev.  D.  W.  Towns- 
end   read    the    48th    and    i22d    Psalms.      Rev.    George  Hill,  D.    D., 

offered  prayer,   and  the   choir  gave  as  a   voluntary,    "Oh,  Come  all  ye 

Faithful,"— Adeste  Fideles,   from  Rossini's  Stabat  Mater.      The    Rev. 

VV.  W.  Moorhead   then    read    a  general    history  of  the  church,  at  the 

conclusion  of  which  the  choir  gave,  "Mighty  Jehovah." 

The  pastor  then  introduced  to  the  audience  Dr.  Speer,  son  of  the 

first  pastor,  now  'n    the  ninety-second  year  of  his  age,  who  tendered 

to  the  people  his  congratulations  on  the  growth  and   prosperity  of  the. 

church. 

The    pastor    also   announced    the   fact    of    the  presence    of  J« 

Buchanan  Henry,  Esq.,  son  of  the  second  pastor  of  the  church.     Mr. 

Henry,  not  being  well,  asked   to  be  excused  from  making  a  speech. 

The  Rev.  William  Speer,  D.  D.,  then  gave  a  history  of  the  life  and 
work  of  his  grandfather.  Rev.  William  Speer,  with  special  reference 
to  his  pastorate  in  Greensburg  which  continued  twenty-six  years. 

The  exercises  on  Monday  evening  were  opened  with  a  voluntary 
by  the  choir,  "Oh,  Come  Let  us  Sing." -Millard.  Soprano^  Miss 
Minnie  Goode  and  Miss  Lizzie  Kilgore  ;  bass,  Henry  Greerawalt.  The 
Rev.  J.  D.  Moorhead  led  in  prayer.  Dr.  Brownson,  W.  D.  Moore, 
Esq.,  Rev.  James  P.  Smith,' and  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill  then  delivered  ad- 
dresses. These  were  interspersed  with  the  following  voluntaries  by 
the  choir:  ist,  "Oh,  Where  shall  Wisdom  be  Found."— Millard. 
Soprano,  Miss  Lizzie  Kilgore  ;  tenor,  John  M.  Young;  bass,  Henry 
Greenawalt.  2d,  "Jesus,  Lover  of  my  Soul,"  solo,  Miss  Bessie 
Craig.      3d,   "Lift  up  your  Eyes  on  High." 

On  Tuesday  morning  at  nine  o'clock  the  exercises  were  opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  T.  R.  Ewing,  D.  D.  The  Rev.  W.  W. 
Moorhead  then  read  a  history  of  his  pastorate.     Drs.  Hill  and   Ewing 


and  Revs.  Townsend,  Kennedy,  Senour,  and  Gill  then  gave  some 
reminiscenses.  Letters  were  then  read  from  the  absent,  and  the  Rev. 
E.  G.  McKinley  closed  the  services  with  the  benediction. 

Thus  came  to  an  end  what  on  all  hands  was  deemed  a  very  suc- 
cessful Centennial  celebration.  The  interest  was  sustained  from 
the  beginning  to  the  close.  Large  audiences  were  present,  especially 
on  Sabbath  morning  and  evening  and  on  Monday  night.  Probably 
not  less  than  eight  hundred  people  were  present  at  each  of  these 
services.  The  sermons  were  all  of  a  high  order  and  were  delivered 
in  the  best  of  spirit  and  taste.  The  Sacrament  of  Baptism  on  Saturday 
and  the  reception  of  members  and  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  on  Sabbath   were  sweetly  solemn   services. 

The  music  by  the  choir  manifested  good  taste  in  its  selection, 
and  the  manner  and  spirit  with  which  it  was  rendered  were  greatly 
admired. 

The  committee  on  decorations,  assisted  by  those  who  came  to 
their  aid  and  generously  furnished  with  plants  and  flowers  by  people 
of  various  creeds  and  denominations,  did  their  work  handsomely.  To 
give  anything  like  and  adequate  description  of  the  decorations  is 
simply  impossible.  Over  the  alcove  where  the  choir  sat  were  hung 
festoons  of  evergreen  and  a  floral  banner  with  the  dates  "1788"  and 
'*i888"  formed  in  beautiful  flowers,  while  along  the  railing  and 
around  the  platform  was  a  profusion  of  potted  plants,  many  of  them 
in  bloom,  and  some  large  bouquets  of  cut  flowers  which  almost  con- 
cealed the  pulpit  and  the  singers. 

The  local  press  and  a  number  of  the  Pittsburg  dailies  took  great 
interest  in  the  proceedings  and  manifested  no  little  enterprise  in  the 
manner  and  promptness  with  which  they  gave  these  to  the  public. 
The  weather  was  propitious. 

All  the  persons  asked  to  contribute  janything  to  the  occasion, 
almost  without  exception,  were  present  and  performed  their  parts  ad- 
mirably. Members  of  the  other  churches  seemed  to  forget  for  the 
time  but  that  they,  too,  were  Presbyterians,  and  entered  heartily  into 
the   services. 

Thus  under  the  smile  of  God,  and  amid  the  congratulations  of 
members  of  Presbytery  and  other  invited  guests,  and  with  the  good 
will  of  the  community  in  general,  the  church  closed  its  first  century 
and  entered  on  its  second. 


A  GENERAL  HISTORY 

OF    THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  GREENSBURG, 

BY  ITS  PRESENT  PASTOR, 

REV.  W.  W.  MOORHEAD,  D.  D., 

FROM 

ITS  ORIGIN  TO  THE  PRESENT  PASTORATE. 


ITS    ORIGIN. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  Greensburg  originated  about  the  time 
the  town  had  its  beginning.  In  the  published  minutes  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery  there  is  a  record  of  Greensburg  having  asked  sup- 
pbes  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  Mount  Pleasant  (Middle;  Church,  April 
15,  1788. 

For  want  of  a  better  or  more  definite  date,  we  have  fixedupon 
that  as  the  time  of  the  church's  birth.  Just  when,  if  ever,  it  was 
formally  organized,  is  not  certainly  known.  Our  fathers  were  not 
much  given  to  form  and  ceremony.  It  would  seem  that  most  of  the 
early  churches  were  organized  by  Stated  or  Occasional  Supplies  and 
were  subseijuently  reported  to  Presbytery. 

WESTMORELAND  COUNTY  AND  ITS  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Westmoreland  county  was  organized  in  1773.  Its  early  settlers 
were  largely  Scotch-Irish,  and,  therefore,  mostly  Presbyterians. 
Being  an  aggressive  people  they  were  among  the  first  to  cross  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains  and  to  settle  in  what  afterward  became  Westmore- 
land county.  As  they  always  had  a  controlling  influence  in  public 
affairs  they  were  usually  found  in  large  numbers  around  the  seats  of 
political  power  and  influence.  Hence,  when  the  courts  were  held  at 
Hannastown,.  from  1773  to  1786,  we  find  that  most  of  the  names 
prominent   in  the  stirring  events  of  that  time  and  place  were  Scotch- 


lO 

Irish.  Doubtless  the  greater  part  of  these  were  also  Presbyterians, 
and  from  the  time  of  its  orgin  worshiped  at  Unity.  We  may  be  sure 
that  they  were  something  ;  for  those  were  not  the  times,  and  they  were 
not  the  men  to  live  without  a  creed,  and,  from  their  characters  as  well 
as  from  their  names,  we  may  conclude  that  theirs  was  "true  blue." 

ICHABOD  WRITTEN  OVER  HANNASTOWN. 

But  the  glory  of  Hannastown  was  short-lived.  First,  it  was 
burned  in  1782.  Then  in  17S6  the  Courts  were  removed  ;  and,  soon 
after,  the  old  State  road  was  built,  which  left  Hannastown  to  the 
north,  and,  therefore,  "out  in  the  cold."  It  is  true  the  ancient  town 
made  a  brave  struggle  for  its  life.  But  it  had  no  "Board  of  Trade," 
and  no  daily  newspaper  to  tell  to  the  world  its  real  or  imaginary  ad- 
vantages, and  so  it  finally  yielded  to  the  inevitable,  and  now  on  its 
prospective  "corner  lots"  is  grown  some  of  the  finest  wheat  raised  in 
Westmoreland  county,  and  the  only  thing  of  note  that  has  occurred 
there  in  these  last  years  was  the  centennial  celebration  of  its  burning. 

GREENSBURG. 

But  what  was  Hannastown's  loss  was  Greensburg's  gain.  It  has 
been  said  that  God  made  the  country  and  man  made  the  town.  But 
there  must  have  been  something  in  the  very  country  in  which  Greens- 
burg  was  afterward  built,  to  suggest  a  town,  for  here  at  a  very  early 
day,  before  it  had  received  the  courts,  and  before  the  State  road  was 
built,  there  was  already  a  village  of  probably  some  four  five  or  hun- 
dred inhabitants.  The  removal  of  the  county  seat  to  this  place  ;  the 
building  of  the  State  road,  and  the  tide  of  emigration  to  Western 
Pennsylvania,  which  set  in  about  1787,  all  these  conspired  to  give 
Greensburg  what,  in  modern  parlance,  would  be  called  quite  a 
"boom."  Hempfield  township,  in  which  Greensburg  is  located,  was 
settled  largely  by  Germans.  But  the  Germans  were  never  fond  of  the 
towns.  As  a  general  thing  they  prefer  to  stay  on  the  farm.  But  the 
same  inducements  of  trade,  politics,  and  law  which  had  taken  the 
Scotch-Irish  to  Hannastown,  now  brought  them  to  Greensburg,  and 
their  numbers  doubtless  rapidly  increased  after  it  became  the  county 
seat.  Some  of  these  probably  had  their  church  connection  at  Unity. 
But  Unity  was  eight  miles  distant,  and  Greensburg  was  becoming  a 
place  of  considerable  note,  and  many  of  its  leading  citizens  were 
Presbyterians,  and,  we  may  well  conclude,  they  would  not  be  long  in 
forming  the  nucleus  of  a  church,  and  in  providing  for  the  means  of 
grace  at  home. 

NOT  A  PART  OF  UNITY  CHURCH. 

That  these  formed  a  congregation  by  themselves  and  were  not  a 
part  of  Unity  at  the  time  they  first  asked  supi)lies  seems  probable  from 
the  following  circumstance.  For  about  three  years  prior  to  this  Unity 
had  been  refused  supplies,  because  they  had  not  settled  with  Dr. 
Power,  who  had  supplied  their  pulpit  statedly  for  some  time  previous. 
In  the  meantime  Greensburg  had  grown  hungry  for  the  preached  word, 
and  now  asks  supplies  for  herself.     Had  she  been  a  part    of  Unity   at 


the  time  she  could  hardly  have  done  this.  At  the  same  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  but  on  the  day  following  the  one  on  which  the  request 
from  Greensburg  was  presented,  this  record  was  made  in  the  minutes : 

"Commissioners  appeared  from  Unity  congregation,  and  report 
that  they  have  discharged  the  greater  part  of  what  was  due  from  them 
to  Mr.  Power,  and  that  they  will  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  have 
the  whole  discharged  as  soon  as  possible  ;  the  Presbytery  do  therefore 
agree  to  appoint  them  supplies." 

This  action  will  probably  account  for  the  fact  that  there  was  no 
record  made,  whether  or  not  the  request  of  Greensburg  was  granted. 
Unity  having  again  secured  supplies,  Greensburg  was  probably  supplied 
in  counection  with  it.  From  April  15th,  1788,  till  October,  1800, 
there  is  no  record  made  of  Greensburg.  In  the  meantime  Unity,  in 
connection  with  Salem,  had  called  the  Rev.  John  McPherrin  ;  and  this 
union  continued  until  June  of  the  last  named  year,  when  Mr. 
McPherrin  was  released  from  Unity. 

UNITY  AND  GREENSBURG. 

In  the  records  of  Presbytery,  dated  October  23,  1800,  we  find 
the  following  minute  : 

"Special  application  was  made  by  the  Commissioners  from  Unity 
congregation  for  Mr.  Black's  being  permitted  to  officiate  in  said 
church  and  Greensburg  as  stated  supply  until  our  spring  meeting, 
which  was  granted." 

At  that  spring  meeting,  April,  1801,  Greensburg  brought  in  a 
supplication  for  Mr.  Black  as  stated  supply,  one  half  his  time,  until 
fall  meeting  of  Presbytery.  An  application  from  Unity  congregation 
for  Mr.  Black  as  stated  supply,  two-thirds  of  his  time,  until  fall  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery,  was  also  presented.  As  Mr.  Black  did  not  have 
quite  that  much  time  at  his  disposal,  the  Presbytery  took  the  following 
action  :  "Mr.  Black  was  appointed  a  stated  supply  between  Unity  and 
Greensburg,  in  such  proportion  as  they  and  he  shall  agree,  until  next 
fall  meeting  of  Presbytery." 

What  Greensburg  was  doing  between  1788  and  1800  this  depo- 
nent saith  not,  because  he  does  not  know.  From  their  action  in  1788, 
and  again  in  1801,  and  from  the  recognition  given  them  by  the 
Presbytery  in  the  latter  instance,  they  were  evidently  a  congregation 
by  themselves,  acting  independently  of  Unity  whenever  it  suited  them 
better  to  do  so.  They  may  have  been  supplied  in  part  at  least  by  Mr. 
McPherrin,  pastor  of  Unity  and  Salem  ;  or  they  may  have  "supplied 
themselves,"  as  some  of  our  congregations  still  persist  in  asking  the 
privilege  of  doing. 

The  times  were  troublous.  This  was  the  period  covered  in  part  by 
the  Whisky  Insurrection  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  the  citizens  of 
Greensburg,  no  doubt,  took  an  active  interest  in  all  the  exciting  events 
of  those  exciting  times.  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  were  never  known 
to  allow  religion  or  anything  else  to  interfere  with  their  love  of  justice 
or  hatred  of  oppression.     However,  the  interests  of  religion  could  not 


have  been  entirely  overlooked,  for  in  1801  the  church  of  Greensburg 
was  ready  to  engage  a  minister  for  half  his  time,  thus  indicating  both 
growth  and  interest  during  the  preceding  years.  Although  the  recorded 
history  of  this  period  is  meagre,  yet  we  are  not  without  a  few  historic 
links  to  prove  the  True  Presbyterian  Succession.  Through  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  Augustus  Drum  Welty,  of  the  Register  and  Recorder's 
office,  I  have  had  access  to  his  copy  of  the  History  of  Westmoreland 
County.  From  that  I  learn  that  Mrs  Priscilla  Coulter,  grandmother 
of  General  Richard  Coulter,  was  a  resident  of  Greensburg  in  1795. 
General  Coulter  has  in  his  possession  a  certificate  of  her  church 
membership,  which  reads  as  follows  : 

AN  ANCIENT  CERTIFICATE    OF  MEMBERSHIP. 

"This  is  to  certify,  that  ye  Bearer  hereof,  Priscilla  Coulter,  a 
widow,  resided  in  ye  bounds  of  this  Congregation  a  considerable  time, 
behaved  herself  soberly  &:  christianly,  free  from  all  grounds  of  cliurch 
censure  Known  to  us;  was  admitted  to  full  communion  &  left  us 
better  than  a  year  ago,  when  she  was  free  from  all  publick  scandal. 
Given  at  Round  Hill  in  ye  Forks  of  Youghigani  this  25th  day  of 
Augt.,  1793.  By  James  FiNLEY. 

With  consent  of  the  Session." 

Thus  it  would  appear  that  Mrs.  Coulter  came  to  Greensburg  at 
least  as  early  as  1792,  and  the  fact  that  she  received  a  letter  from 
Round  Hill  in  1793,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  there  was,  at  that 
time,  a  Presbyterian  church  in  Greensburg.  James  Brady,  Esq,,  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  the  county  in  1795.  ^^  ^^^^  time  of  his  election  he 
was  a  resident  of  Ligonier  Valley,  but  moved  to  Greensburg  on  assum- 
ing the  duties  of  his  office,  and,  like  so  many  sheriff's  since  his  day, 
made  his  home  in  Greensburg  ever  afterward.  He  was  also  a  Presby- 
terian, and,  as  we  shall  see  further  on,  was  the  first  elder  of  the 
church  of  whom  we  have  any  record.  Mrs.  General  Coulter  is  his 
grand  daughter,  and  Hon.  Welty  McCullogh,  M.  C,  is  a  great-grand- 
son. 

Another  Presbyterian  who  lived  in  Greensburg  in  the  last  century 
was  John  M.  Snowden,  Esq.,  uncle  of  the  late  John  M.  Laird,  Esq. 
In  .1798  he  began  the  publication  of  the  Farmers'  Register,  the  first 
paper  published  in  Westmoreland  county,  and  the  second  published 
west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  Whether  he  was  a  communicant 
in  1798  is  not  certainly  known,  but  it  is  probable  he  was;  since  as 
early  as  1807  he  represented  his  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assembly, 
as  an  elder. 

CLEAR   SAILING. 

From  October  23,  1800,  when  the  church,  in  connection  with 
Unity,  secured  the  Rev.  John  Black  as  a  stated  supply,  the  history  is 
clear,  though  not  always  very  full. 

ITS    MINISTERS. 

The  church  has  had  one  stated  supply  and  eight  pastors,  besides 
the  ministers  who  served   what  was  once  known  as  the  '"New  School 


13 

branch."  Of  these  latter  I  have  requested  Dr.  Brownson  to  write, 
as  his  i)astorate  covered  nearly  the  entire  period  of  their  combined 
ministries.  Most  of  those  who  served  what  was  once  known  as  the 
"Old  School  Branch"  are  either  here  in  person  or  in  the  person  of 
their  descendants.  Some  of  these,  by  request,  will  give  the  history  of 
their  respective  pastorates.  I  will  speak  of  the  dead  and  of  the  absent 
living  who  have  no  representatives  present ;  of  their  character  and 
ministry,  as  1  have  learned  these  from  tradition  and  history.  And,  as 
it  is  sometimes  well  to  see  ourselves  as  others  see  us,  1  will  also  briefly 
sketch  the  character  and  work  of  those  who  are  with  us,  and  also  of 
those  who  are  represented  by  descendants. 

SOURCES  OF  INFORMATION. 

That  it  may  be  known  that  I  have  not  drawn  on  my  imagination 
for  my  facts,  and  that  I  may  not  be  charged  with  having  taken  my 
address  from  a  cyclopedia,  1  will  here  and  now  acknowledge  my  in- 
debtedness to  Dr.  Elliott's  life  of  McCurdy  ;  Dr.  Donaldson's  History 
of  the  Churches  in  Blairsville  Presbytery  ;  the  published  minutes  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  ;  the  traditions  of  the  fathers,  and  the  lives 
and  characters  of  the  ministers  themselves,  as  I  have  seen  and 
known  them. 

REV.   JOHN  BLACK. 

With  the  exception  of  some  of  the  New  School  brethren,  who 
probably  served  in  that  capacity,  the  Rev.  John  Black  was  the  church's 
first  and  only  stated  supply.  He  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and 
a  graduate  of  Princeton  College.  Before  coming  to  Westmoreland 
county  he  had  been  pastor  of  Upper  Marsh  Creek  church,  in  Adams 
county,  and  had  also  served  a  Dutch  Reformed  church  in  the  same 
county.  He  was  stated  supply  of  the  churches  of  Unity  and 
Greensburg  from  October  23,  1800,  to  April  22,  1802,  when  he  de- 
clined to  serve  them  further  and  requested  of  Presbytery  that  he  might 
be  furnished  with  regular  testimonials,  and  exercise  his  ministry  at 
discretion  until  the  fall  meeting  of  Presbytery.  This  request  was 
granted.  His  health  was  evidently  declining  at  this  time  and  about 
four  months  afterwards,  on  the  i6tli  of  August,  1802,  he  was  called 
home  to  his  final  rest  and  reward.  The  Rev.  John  Black,  D.  D.,  once 
pastor  of  the  5th  Presbyterian  church  (N.  S.),  Pittsburg,  was  his 
grandson.  He  had  been  in  the  ministry  about  twenty-seven  years 
before  coming  to  Greensburg.  The  record  of  his  ministry  here  still 
remaining  is  exceedingly  brief.  Doubtless  it  is  fuller  in  Heaven.  He 
represented  his  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1801.  Dr. 
Elliott  made  this  record  of  him  : 

"He  was  a  man  of  a  high  order  of  talent,  an  able  disputant,  and 
fond  of  metaphysical  disciuisitions.  He  published  a  discourse  in  fi^ivor 
of  a  New  Testament  Psalmody,  and  in  reply  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson, 
of  the  Associate  church,  which  is  said  to  have  been  written  with 
much  ability." 


14 

He  lies  in  my  mind  as  having  been  a  high-toned  gentleman,  a 
spiritually-minded  Christian,  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testame4it, 
and  as  a  man  well  worthy  to  stand  at  the  head  of  that  line  of  ministers 
who  have  succeeded  him  in  the  church  of  Greensburg. 

A  VACANCY  AND    OCCASIONAL  SUPPLIES. 

From  the  spring  of  1802  till  the  spring  of  1803,  the  church  was 
vacant.  During  this  time  the  Revs.  Samuel  Porter,  Francis  Laird, 
and  a  Mr.  Wriglu  preached  one  day  each,  as  occasional  supplies  ap- 
pointed  by  Presbytery. 

REV.   WILLIAM    SPEER    AND     HIS     GRANDSON,   REV.    WILLIAM     SPEER,   D.   D. 

April  19th,  1803,  the  church  presented  a  call  to  the  Presbytery 
for  the  ministerial  services  of  Rev.  William  Speer,  for  half  his  time, 
Unity  uniting  in  the  call  for  the  other  half  Mr.  Speer  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  and  his  pastorate  that 
of  being  the  longest  the  church  ever  enjoyed,  covering  a  period  of 
about  twenty-six  years.  During  his  pastorate  the  first  church  building 
was  erected,  the  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized,  the  Auxiliary 
Tract  Society  originated,  and  the  temporal  and  spiritual  foundations 
of  the  church  were  securely  laid.  Mr.  Speer  was  a  refined  and  cultured 
gentleman  ;  a  preacher  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  as  an 
ecclesiastic  had  no  superior.  He  probably  represented  his  Presbytery 
more  frequently  in  the  General  Assembly  than  any  man  that  ever  be- 
longed to  it.  But  I  will  not  dilate  upon  his  history.  His  grandson, 
the  Rev.  William  Speer,  D.  D.,  of  Washington,  Pa.,  a  born  historian, 
and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  a  minister  and  a  missionary  to  China,  and 
afteward  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education,  is  here  to  represent  him. 
He  loves  to  dwell  upon  the  lives  and  deeds  of  the  Fathers,  and  we 
gladly  leave  to  him  to  tell  the  story  of  the  life  and  labors  of  his  worthy 
grandsire,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  of  Greensburg. 

RESIGNATION  OF  MR.   SPEER  AND  OCCASIONAL  SUPPLIES. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  held  in  Greens- 
burg, April  7th,  1829,  we  find  the  following: 

"In  consequence  of  ill  health  Mr.  Speer  asked  leave  to  resign  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Greensburg  and  Unity. 
With  the  consent  of  the  Commissioners  from  said  congregations,  his 
request  was  granted  and  the  congregations  were  declared  vacant." 

During  the  vacancy  which  followed  the  following  named  ministers 
by  appointment  of  Presbytery,  preached  as  occasional  supplies,  viz  : 
Revs.  Robert  Johnston,  A.  O.  Patterson,  Thomas  Davis,  James 
Graham,  Alex.  McCandless. 

Dr.  Alexander  Brown,  afterward  President  of  Jefferson  College, 
is  said  to  have  also  supplied  the  church  some  time  during  this  vacancy. 


15 


REV.   ROBERT  HENRY. 


At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  at  Unity,  October  7,  1829,  the  death 
of  Mr.  Speer  was  recorded  "with  unfeigned  regret,"  and  in  the 
minutes  of  the  same  meeting  we  find  the  following  : 

"Mr.  Robert  Henry,  a  licentiate  under  the  care  of  the  Second 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  presented  a  dismission  and  recjuested  to  be 
taken  under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery,  which  was  granted." 

At  the  same  session  calls  were  presented  for  Mr.  Henry  from 
Greensburg  and  Unity,  each  for  half  of  his  time,  and  each  promising 
him  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  year  salary.  Presbytery  having 
satisfied  itself  of  the  good  financial  standing  of  these  two  congrega- 
tions, proceeded  to  deliver  the  calls  into  Mr.  Henry's  hands.  These 
he  accepted,  and,  after  passing  through  the  required  trials,  in  a 
manner  satisfactory  to  Presbytery,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  over 
the  churches  of  Greensburg  and  Unity  at  a  meeting  held  at  Greens- 
burg, April  7th,  1830.  This  was  Greensburg's  first  venture  at  calling 
a  licentiate,  but  it  must  have  proved  satisfactory,  for  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Henry  they  called  another  of  the  same.  In  Dr.  Donaldson's 
history  of  the  churches  of  Blairsville  Presbytery,  Mr.  Henry  is 
represented  as  having  been  a  gentleman  of  good  manners,  with  fine 
social  qualities,  as  a  good  talker,  and  perfectly  at  home  in  the  society  of 
ladies.  He  delivered  his  sermons  without  the  aid  of  a  manuscript,  and 
was  a  popular  and  impressive  preacher.  It  has  been  said  that  he  could 
not  write  legibly,  but  that  may  have  been  a  slander.  At  least  I  have 
found  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  peculiarly  tempted  to  exaggerate  on 
that  subject.  While  at  Greensburg,  Mr.  Henry  married  a  sister  of  the 
Hon.  James  Buchanan,  who  afterward  became  President  of  the  United 
States.  She  is  still  remembered  by  members  of  the  congregation  as  a 
beautiful  and  accomplished  woman.  She  also  had  the  spirit  of  the 
true  minister's  vvife,  for  once  when  the  promised  salary  fell  short  and 
her  husband  was  in  peri)lexity  as  to  what  he  should  do,  she  told  him 
to  accept  what  the  people  had  to  give  and  they  would  try  ana  live  on 
that.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Henry  she  returned  to  her  friends  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  but  her  widowed  life  was  brief  and  she  soon  re- 
joined her  husband  in  the  land  of  immortal  love  and  youth,  and 
where  the  sacrifices  made  for  love  and  duty  are  richly  recompensed. 
The  history  of  Mr.  Henry  and  his  young  and  beautiful  wife,  with  their 
short  life  of  love  and  work  in  Greensburg,  seems  like  romance.  They 
left  one  child,  J.  Buchanan  Henry,  Esq.,  of  New  York  City.  So  far 
as  I  have  been  able  to  learn  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Henry  was  without 
special  incident.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1834. 
He  was  much  beloved  by  his  congregations,  and  under  such  a  pastor 
aided  by  such  a  wife,  the  people  during  their  ministry  doubtless  re- 
ceived both  strength  and  beauty  from  the  sanctuary. 

Mr.  Henry  died  Nov.  ist.  183S.  Mrs.  Mary  Foster  while  living 
used  to  relate  this  incident.  A  short  time  before  his  death  she  called 
to  see  her  pastor.  Addressing  him  she  said  :  "Well,  Mr.  Henry,  the 
conflict  will  soon  be  over."     He  said,  "The  conflict  is  already  over, 


i6 

not  for  worlds  would  I  exchange  my  situation."  His  body  lies  in  St. 
Clair  cemetery  by  the  side  of  that  of  their  infant  daughter,  whence, 
with  all  who  sleep  in  Jesus  around  him,  it  will  one  day  rise  to  engage 
again  in  the  worship  and  service  of  God. 

During  the  vacancy  which  occurred  after  Mr.  Henry's  death  the 
church  only  reported  thirty  members.  This  was  after  the  members  of 
the  New  School  branch  had  withdrawn. 

THE  UNION  BETWEEN  UNITY  AND  GREENSBURG  DISSOLVED  AFTER  ALMOST 

FORTY    YEARS. 

Blairsville  Presbytery  had  been  erected  soon  after  Mr.  Henry  had 
been  installed  pastor  over  the  churches  of  Unity  and  Greensburg,  and 
at  his  deatii  Unity  went  to  Blairsville,  where  it  properly  belonged, 
while  Greensburg,  as  was  its  privilege,  remained  in  Redstone.  Thus 
the  union  which  had  so  long  existed  between  these  churches  was  finally 
dissolved.  But  we  are  good  friends  still,  and  on  this  glad  centennial 
day  we  send  the  old  church  greeting,  and  wish  her  God  speed  as  she 
presses  on  in  advance  to  her  second  centennial. 

REV.    JAMES    1.     BROWNSON.    D.    D. 

The  vacancy  of  two  and  a  half  years  which  occurred  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Henry,  was  the  longest  in  the  entire  history  of  the 
church  from  the  time  it  received  its  first  pastor.  But  there  is  some- 
times a  providence,  as  well  as  what  men  call  luck,  in  leisure.  About 
this  time  God  had  a  young  man  in  the  Seminary  at  Allegheny  whom 
he  was  preparing  for  the  church  at  Greensburg. 

Mt.  Pleasant  and  Greensburg  having  united  in  a  call  for  Mr. 
James  I.  Brownson,  a  licentiate,  and  he  having  accepted  the  same,  he 
was  ordained  and  installed  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  November  26th,  and  in- 
stalled at  Greensburg,  November  27th,  1841,  each  church  receiving 
half  time,  and  each  paying  half  the  salary.  God  evidently  called 
young  Brownson  to  Greensburg,  but  when  he  left,  his  congregation 
could  scarcely  believe  it  was  God  who  called  him  away.  Heretofore 
their  pastors  had  been  called  to  Heaven  when  they  left,  and  they  could 
not  understand  why  any  man  would  leave  Greensburg,  unless  he  had  a 
similar  call.  The  times  were  troublous  when  the  young  minister 
entered  on  his  ministry  ;  but  then  it  was  tliat  he  displayed  those  traits 
of  prudence  and  sanctified  common  sense,  which,  joined  with  a  good 
order  of  talent,  have  made  him,  without  the  backing  of  a  large  city,  or 
any  special  local  advantages,  one  of  the  influential  men  of  the  Presby- 
byterian  church.  But  having  in  love  and  justice  to  Dr.  Brownson  said 
this  much,  and,  having  stated  some  facts  which  I  know  he  is  too  mod- 
est to  state  himself;  1  will  now  leave  him  to  tell  his  own  story  of  his 
pastorate  in  the  "Brave  old  burg  of  Greene." 

During  the  vacancy  which  followed  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Brown- 
son  Greensburg  reported  seventy  members. 

The  Rev.  David  E.  Campbell,  who  afterward  became  one  of  the 
martyr  missionaries  of  India,  preac-hed  for  a  time  during  this  vacancy 
and  would  have  been  called  had  he  not  already  determined  on  a 
missionary  field. 


17 

REV.    WILLIAM    D.     MOORE. 

Next  in  the  succession  came  Rev.  William  D.  Moore.  He  was 
installed  for  half  time  each  over  the  churches  of  Greensburg  and 
Mt.  Pleasant,  October  2,  1849.  ^^^  salary  was  six  hundred  dollars, 
divided  equally  between  the  two  churches.  After  two  years  Mr. 
Moore  resigned  the  Mt.  Pleasant  part  of  the  charge  and  gave  all  his 
time  to  Greensburg,  this  church  paying  him  the  same  salary  paid  by 
both  before.  Thus  the  union  which  had  existed  between  Greensburg 
and  Mt.  Pleasant  for  about  ten  years  was  finally  dissolved,  and  from 
that  time  forward  Greensburg  has  been  "self-sustaining."  Thus  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Moore  marks  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  the 
church.  Dr.  Brownson  had  left  a  new  church  building  and  a  reunited 
congregation,  and  thus  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Moore  began  under 
favorable  circumstances.  From  looking  over  some  old  subscription 
papers  I  also  find  that  he  had  the  financial  support,  and,  doubtless, 
the  attendance  on  his  ministry  of  most,  if  not  all,  the  leading  lawyers 
of  Greensburg.  His  tastes  were  scholarly  and  led  him  naturally  into 
scientific  investigations,  in  which  he  had  the  sympathy  and  compan- 
ionsliip  of  such  scientists  as  Dr.  Hacke,  Edgar  Cowan,  Esq.,  and 
Alfred  T.  King,  M.  D.  While  here  he  joined  the  profession  of 
teaching  with  that  of  preaching,  and  for  a  time  conducted  the  Greens- 
burg Academy  in  the  basement  of  the  new  church.  He  resigned  his 
charge  June  14,  1853,  and  went  to  Mississippi,  where,  as  a  professor 
in  a  college,  he  paved  the  way  from  the  pulpit  to  the  bar,  to  which  he 
has  since  gone,  and  where  he  has  met  with  eminent  success  as  one  of 
Pittsburg's  leading  lawyers.  While  we  regret  that  he  left  the  ministry, 
yet  we  are  proud  of  his  attainments  in  the  law.  He  is  here  to-day  and 
will  speak  for  himself.  When  Mr.  Moore  left  the  church  it  numbered 
ninety  members. 

REV.    DAVID  KENNEDY.    . 

Mr.  Kennedy  was  installed  April  9th,  1854.  His  pastorate  was 
brif-f,  as  he  resigned  August  ist,  1855.  He  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  is  now  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  St,  Mary's,  Elk  county,  Pa.  He  wrote  me  that  he  would 
like  to  be  here  on  this  occasion,  but  that  the  meeting  of  his  Presbytery 
about  this  time  would  prevent  his  coming.  Mr.  Kennedy  was  a 
bachelor  and  boarded  at  a  hotel  when  pastor  here.  He  was  the  only 
pastor  of  this  church  that  ever  came  to  it  a  bachelor  and  left  in  the 
same  forlorn  condition.  As  he  had  no  wife  to  blame  it  on  he  has  not 
told  me  his  reasons  for  leaving.  During  his  stay  the  church  did  not 
make  much  history,  and  with  the  little  that  it  did  make.  I  am  not 
familiar.     The  church  numbered  eighty-three  members  when  he  left  it. 

REV.   JOSEPH  SMITH,   D.    D. ,   AND  HIS  SON,   REV.  JAMES  P.  SMITH. 

Dr.  Smith,  author  of  "Old  Redstone"  and  "History  of  Jefferson 
College,"  entered  on  his  ministry  January,  1856,  though  he  was  not 
installed  as  pastor  until  the  9th  of  the  following  April.     The  salary 


promised  was  five  hundred  dollars.  Dr.  Smith  was  a  gentleman  of 
the  Old  School.  He  was  courteous  and  kindly  in  manner  and  very 
faithful  as  a  pastor.  He  is  often  quoted  in  the  latter  respect,  and  the 
present  pastor  often  suffers  from  the  contrast.  He  was  well  advanced 
in  years  when  he  came  to  Greensburg,  and  if  his  ministry  here  lacked 
somewhat  the  sprightliness  of  youth,  yet  it  was  rich  in  the  experience 
and  grace  which  had  come  from  a  life  spent  in  the  Master's  service 
and  in  a  close  walk  with  God.  During  his  pastorate  a  precious  revival 
occurred,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  two  students  of  the  Seminary 
at  Allegheny,  viz:  J.  C.  Bliss,  now  Dr.  John  C.  Bliss,  of  New  York 
City,   and   O.    A.    Hills,  now  Dr.  Oscar  A.  Hills,  of  Wooster,  Ohio. 

At  the  united  request  of  Dr.  Smith  and  the  church,  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburg  transferred  the  church  and  its  pastor  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Blairsville,  October,  1858.  The  change  was  doubtless  made  as  a 
matter  of  convenience.  Owing  to  the  lines  of  travel  it  was  more 
convenient  to  attend  the  meetings  of  Blairsville  Presbytery  than  those 
of  Redstone.  The  church  had  two  hundred  members  when  he 
resigned. 

Dr.  Smith  is  represented  here  to-day  by  his  son,  Rev.  James  P. 
Smith,  of  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  of  the  Presbyterian  church  South. 
As  pastor  at  Fredericksburg  for  nineteen  years,  as  Stated  Clerk  of  the 
Synod  of  Virginia,  and  as  Chairman  of  the  committee  of  arrangements 
of  the  Southern  Church  for  the  Union  Centennial  Services  in  Philadel- 
phia this  spring,  he  has  shown  himself  a  worthy  son  of  an  honored 
father,  and  worthy  to  be  known  as  the  great  grandson  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Smith  and  Rev.  James  Power,  D.  D.,  pioneer  ministers  of  Western 
Pennsylvania.  He  will  speak  more  fully  of  the  life  and  work  of  his 
venerated  father,  especially  as  these  were  related  to  the  church  of 
Greensburg. 

REV.  W.   H.   GILL. 

And  now  I  come  to  speak  of  my  immediate  predecessor.  Mr. 
Gill  entered  on  his  work  in  Greensburg  with  the  ardor  of  youth  and  a 
hopefulness  not  yet  chilled  by  disappointment.  He  was  a  wide-awake 
Sabbath  school  man,  a  popular  preacher  and  an  elocutionist  of  con- 
siderable note.  He  was  something  of  a  Puritan  in  his  ideas  of  disci- 
pline, and  believed  that  before  a  man  professed  a  faith  in  Christ  pub- 
licly he  ought  not  only  to  be  a  Christian  in  the  charity  of  the  session, 
but  that  he  ought  to  be  able  to  prove  himself  one.  Hence,  additions 
to  the  church  during  his  pastorate  were  not  as  numerous  as  they  might 
otherwise  have  been.  Nor  did  Mr.  Gill  believe  in  keeping  on  the 
church  roll  names  that  ought  to  be  on  a*  tombstone ;  and,  hence,  he 
pruned  that  document  unmercifully.  Whatever  other  sins  he  may 
have  been  guilty  of,  he  was  never  much  in  danger  of  being  punished  for 
numbering  the  people.  Owing  to  these  characteristics  he  was  a  good 
man  to  follow.  Having  married  Miss  Kate  Russell,  a  member  of  the 
church,  he  was  never  fully  released  from  this  congregation.  Indeed, 
so  attached  was  he  to  the  church  that  he  would  never  have  left  it  at  all 
if  he  had  not  been  allowed  to  take  part  of  the  congregation  with  him. 


19 

He  doubtless  often  sits  and  sings,  "Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds" — to 
Greensburg.  But  he  is  here  to-day  and  will  speak  for  himself,  if  the 
rest  of  us  ever  give  him  a  chance. 

ITS  RULINO  ELDERS. 

And  now  we  turn  from  the  history  of  the  pastors  who  preached, 
to  the  history  of  those  who  practiced ;  or,  perhaps  to  speak  more  cor- 
rectly, from  the  history  of  the  teaching  to  that  of  the  ruling  elders. 
It  is  hoped  that  each  ex-pastor,  or  his  representative,  will  have  some- 
thing to  say  of  the  elders  who  ruled  at  the  time  covered  by  his  par- 
ticular history,  and,  therefore,  what  I  say  here  will  be  rather  general. 
I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  eldership  is  not  a  good  place  to 
gain  an  earthly  immortality.  A  candidate  for  Coroner  will  have  more 
said  about  him  in  one  campaign  than  a  Presbyterian  elder  will  have 
said  about  him  in  a  lifetime  as  far  as  his  eldership  is  concerned.  If  a 
man  wants  to  know  how  soon  he  will  be  forgotten  after  he  is  once  out 
of  sight  let  him  write  a  local  church  history.  The  words,  "A  new 
king  arose  which  knew  not  Joseph,"  have  now  to  me  more  meaning 
than  they  ever  had  before.  Some  of  us  doubtless  used  to  write  about 
the  wreck  of  time.  I  am  just  beginning  to  understand  what  that 
meant.  However,  a  few  of  tlie  names  and  some  of  the  deeds  of  the 
Elders  have  been  saved  from  the  wreck,  and  these,  with  the  scattered 
incidents  of  their  lives  still  remaining,  we  will  endeavor  to  preserve. 

HON.  JAMES  BRADY. 

The  first  elder  of  the  church  of  whom  we  have  any  record  was 
Hon.  James  Brady.  He  first  appeared  in  Presbytery  as  an  elder  in 
1802.  The  church  was  vacant  at  the  time  and  asked  supplies  at  that 
meeting,  probably  through  him.  In  1807  he  and  his  pastor  were 
elected  delegates  to  the  General  Assembly.  He  frequently  represented 
the  church  in  the  meetings  of  Presbytery,  and  from  the  number  of 
committees  on  which  he  served  in  that  body  he  must  have  been  an 
active  and  useful  member.  He  kept  a  store  for  many  years  on  the  old 
"Brady  corner,"  where  the  Farmers'  National  Bank  is  now.  He  was 
one  of  Greensburg's  most  active  and  honored  citizens.  He  died  in 
1839,  and  must  have  served  the  church  as  an  elder  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
forty  years.  His  daughter,  Jane  Brady,  was  married  to  Jacob  Welty 
by  the  Rev.  William  Speer,  April  16,  i8t8,  just  seventy  years  ago  to- 
day. I  found  a  notice  of  this  while  looking  over  some  old  files  of  the 
Greensburg  Register,  kindly  lent  me  by  the  Barclay  brothers,  John 
and  Joe,  sons  of  Thomas  J.  Barclay,  long  one  of  Greensburg's  most 
trusted  and  successful  business  men.  John  Welty,  Mrs.  Col.  Arm- 
strong, and  Mrs.  xAnn  McCausland  are  children  of  the  above  named 
couple. 

John  M.  Snowden,  Esq.,  already  referred  to,  was  an  elder  and  an 
editor  in  the  early  part  of  this  century. 

Paul  Morrow  was  one  of  the  early  elders.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  General  Assembly  in   1822.     He  had  a  bank  in  the  old  Barclay 


building,  and   was  also,  for  a  time,  connected  with  the    Greensburg 
Gazette. 

John  Black,  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Black,  the  church's  first  stated 
minister  of  whom  we  have  any  account,  was  also  an  elder,  and  one  of 
the  editors  of  the  Greensburg  Gazette. 

John  Armstrong,  Sr  ,  Esq.,  father  of  Col.  James  Armstrong,  and 
John  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.,  was  for  many  years  an  efficent  elder.  He 
was  a  lawyer,  and  for  a  time  edited  the  Greensburg  Intelligencer. 

Wm,  Ramsey,  Randal  McLaughlin,  Robert  Graham,  John 
Nichols,  Dr.  Samuel  P.  Brown,  father  of  Will  and  Miss  Lizzie  Brown, 
and  grandfather  of  Mrs.  C.  C.  Dewalt,  the  Misses  Hetty  and  Milly  and 
Sam.  P.  Brown,  Jr.,  and  Jas.  R.  L.  Brown  ;  Henry  Welty,  Jr.,  husband 
of  Mrs.  Mary  Welty,  still  with  us  ;  Isaac  Miller,  husband  of  Mrs. 
Margaret  Miller  still  living,  and  Smith  Agnew,  were  all  elders  of 
prominence  in  their  day,  of  whom  the  older  pastors  here  will  doubtless 
speak  more  particularly. 

CHURCH    BUILDINGS    AND  OTHER  PROPERTY. 

The  first  church  building  erected  in  Greensburg  was  the  log  one 
built  by  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  people,  which  stood  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Third  streets  where  the  house  now  occupied  by  Jacob 
Hacke  and  his  sisters  stands.  It  was  subsequently  removed  to  the 
back  of  the  lot  across  the  street  and  was  used  as  a  stable.  After  the 
lot  was  bought  by  Judge  Coulter,  the  logs  were  made  into  the  frame 
of  Gen.  Coulter's  stable,  which  stood  just  across  the  alley  from  its  old 
site,  and  which  went  up  in  smoke  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  stable 
was  burned.  Until  1816  the  Presbyterians  worshipped  principally  in 
the  Court  House,  and  in  the  summer  seasons  held  their  communions 
in  the  grove  on  Bunker  Hill.  The  first  Presbyterian  church  building 
is  said  to  have  been  erected  in  1816.  In  the  Greensburg  Register  of 
September  27,  1817,  we  find  the  following  notice: 

"There  will  be  a  meeting  on  Monday,  the  13th  of  October  next, 
at  10  A.  M  ,  for  the  purpose  of  disposing  of  the  pews  in  the  church 
according  to    such  arrangements  as  may  be  made." 

This   notice  was  repeated   in  several  issues  of  the  paper. 

THE  FIRST  CHURCH  LOT. 

The  lot  on  which  the  first  Presbyterian  church  building  was 
erected  is  now  included  in  the  St.  Clair  Cemetery.  It  was  donated 
by  Judge  William  Jack,  an  Episcopalian.  To  whom  and  for  what 
purpose  it  was  given,  the  following  extract  from  the  deed,  executed 
March,  1803,  will  show  : 

"To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  described  lot  to  the  Burgesses 
and  inhabitants,  to  and  for  the  use  of  them  and  their  descendants 
forever,  to  erect  thereon  as  soon  as  convenient,  a  house  for  the 
public  worship  of  the  Almighty  God,  the  adnninistration  of  the  sacra- 


21 

ments  of  the  Christian  religion  and  preaching  from  the  sacred 
scriptures  of  truth,  not  less  than  sixty  feet  square  to  be  set  apart 
as  a  site  in  the  southwesterly  part  of  the  same  lot  for  the  i-aid 
house  of  worship  and  ground  adjoining,  and  the  residue  of  the  said 
lot  for  a  place  of  burial  of  the  dead." 

To  the  making  of  this  gift  Judge  Jack  was  moved,  as  he  says, 
by  a  desire  "to  promote   the  welfare  of  the  borough  of  Greensburg." 

BUILDING  OF    THE   FIRST  CHURCH. 

As  the  "City  Fathers"  did  not  seem  disposed  to  build  a  church 
on  the  Jot  thus  donated  for  that  purpose,  the  Presbyterians,  with  the 
consent  of  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants,  built  thereon,  as  we  have  seen, 
in  1816.  I  have  not  the  dimensions  of  this  first  church,  but  doubtless 
some  of  those  who  remember  it  will  speak  of  it  more  in  detail.  What 
is  said  to  be  a  likeness  of  it  is  given  in  this  volume.  The  congrega- 
tion occupied  this  house  till  about  the  time  the  second  one  was 
finished,  when  they  abandoned  it.  It  was  afterward  occupied  for 
brief  periods  by  Zion's  Lutheran  congregation,  the  Methodists  and 
the  Colored  people.  It  was  finally  taken  possession  of  by  the  St. 
Clair  Cemetery  Company,  and  by  them  it  was.  sold  to  Daniel  Reamer, 
Esq.,  who  removed  it,  and  part  of  the  bricks  of  which  it  was  com- 
posed may  still  be  found  in  the  large  brick  building  on  East  Otterman 
street,  sometimes  known  as  Reamer's  Hall.  The  following  local 
clipped  from  the  Greensburg  Democrat  o'i  February  16,  1857,  given 
me  by  Miss  Hetty  Brown,  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Brown,  is  of 
interest  : 

DESTRUCTION  OF  TOMBSTONES. 

"An  accident  happened  at  the  St.  Clair  Cemetery,  in  this  place, 
on  Wednesday  morning  last,  by  which  a  number  of  tombstones  were 
destroyed.  The  old  Presbyterian  church  on  the  grounds  had  been 
purchased  by  Mr.  Daniel  Reamer,  who  had  men  employed  to  remove 
the  material.  On  the  morning  of  that  day,  before  the  men  had 
gone  to  work,  the  eastern  gable  fell  outward,  crushing  several  monu- 
ments and  tombstones.  Among  those  injured,  was  the  large  and 
beautiful  monument  of  the  late  Major  J.  B.  Alexander,  apparently  a 
mass  of  ruins.  The  tomb  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Henry  was  entirely 
destroyed.  The  headstones  of  Dr.  Postlethwaite  and  family  were 
broken  off.     The  damage  will  not  exceed  six  hundred  dollars." 

Mr.  Henry  having  no  relatives  here  to  repair  the  damage  done 
the  stone  which  marked  his  grave,  Mrs.  Mary  Foster  replaced  it  with 
a  new  one,  for  which  she  was  afterward  reimbursed  and  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  by  his  son,  J.  Buchanan  Henry,  Esq. 

BUILDING  OF  THE  SECOND  CHURCH. 

Of  this  I  will  allow  Dr.  Brownson  to  write.  Any  minister  who 
has  been  pastor  of  a  congregation  when  a  church  was  being  built 
knows  all  about  it,  and  ought  to  be  allowed  to  tell  the  story  of  the 
building  himself. 


The  lot  on  which  it  was  built  and  on  which  the  present  church 
stands,  was  purchased  June  28th,  1847,  ^V  Margaret  Coulter,  Rebecca 
Coulter,  Ann  Brady,  Mary  Foster,  and  Sarah  Miller,  mother  of 
Samuel  and  Isaac  Miller,  and  was  delivered  to  the  trustees  of  the 
church  by  the  same  in  1853.  It  was  ninety-one  feet  front  and  ninety- 
six  and  a  half  feet  deep,  and  cost  three  hundred  dollars. 

THE  PARSONAGE  LOT  AND  FUND   FOR  A  PARSONAGE. 

The  parsonage  lot  on  which  the  parsonage  now  stands  was  pur- 
chased by  Gen.  Coulter  Sept.  13th,  1858.  It  is  ninety  feet  front  and 
ninety-six  and  a  half  feet  deep.  The  price  paid  for  it  was  ^352.  The 
money  came  from  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Priscilla  Lyon,  of  Uniontown. 
The  following  heirs  to  her  estate,  viz.:  Margaret  Coulter,  Rebecca 
Noble,  Margaret  C.  Beatty,  (now  the  widow  of  Daniel  Welty),  J.  A. 
Coulter  and  Richard  Coulter,  made  an  assignment  of  their  interest, 
amounting  in  all  to  $531.27,  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Greens- 
burg,  on  condition  that  the  money  should  be  appropriated  to  the 
purchasing  of  a  lot,  and,  together  with  such  other  funds  as  might  be 
accumulated,  to  the  building  of  a  parsonage  for  the  use  of  the  pastor. 

A  bequest  of  $300  dollars  from  Miss  Margaret  Coulter  was  also 
received,  on  which  Gen.  Coulter  paid  the  taxes,  on  condition  that  it 
also  should  go  to  the  parsonage  fund.  $500  was  also  received  from 
the  estate  of  Dr.  John  Morrison,  which  his  executor,  Thos.  J.  Barclay, 
paid  without  deducting  the  taxes,  on  condition  that  the  bequest  should 
make  a  part  of  the  permanent  funds  of  the  church. 

These  sums,  together  with  the  accrued  interest,  after  deducting 
the  amount  paid  for  the  parsonage  lot,  amounted  in  all  to  between 
eleven  and  twelve  hundred  dollars  at  the  time  the  parsonage  was  built. 

EARLY  TRUSTEES. 

The  names  of  the  very  early  trustees  of  the  church  are  lost,  and 
even  of  those  of  a  later  date  up  to  the  time  the  church  was  incorporated, 
not  many  are  on  record.  Hugh  Y.  Brady,  Esq.,  son  of  Hon.  James 
Brady,  probably  goes  back  the  farthest  of  any  who  served  the  church 
in  this  capacity  of  which  we  have  now  any  record.  He  served  a  long 
time,  and  must  have  taken  quite  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  church. 
Dr.  John  Morrison  served  as  treasurer  perhaps  longer  than  any  other, 
and  did  the  church  good  service  in  that  capacity  for  a  great  many 
years.  Joseph  Montgomery,  Jas.  Nichols,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  L.  Drum, 
were  also  trustees  before  1849. 

THE  CHURCH  INCORPORATED. 

The  church  was  incorporated  in  1849.  ^  ^^'''^  quote  the  preamble 
to  the  rules  and  articles  of  incorporation,  and  will  also  give  the  names 
of  the  charter  members  : 

"The  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  being 
desirous  to  establish  a  corporation  for  religious  purposes,  and  being 
associated  as   a  congregation  for  the  purpose  of  worshiping  Almighty 


23 

God  ;  do  hereby  agree  and  desire  that  they  shall  be  incorporated  for 
such  purposes  and  enjoy  the  powers  and  immunities  of  a  body  cor- 
porate and  politick  in  law  :  R.  Coulter,  Smith  Agnew,  Jacob  Welty, 
John  i\rmstrc)ng,  Elizabeth  Eicher,  Isaac  Miller,  Harriet  Jack,  John 
Morrison,  Rebecca  Coulter,  Jane  Graham,  Marv  Foster,  John  Mc- 
Clelland, Jr.,  R.  Greer,  Thomas  Guthrie,  James  Welty,  Daniel  Welty, 
Henry  Welty,  H.  Y.  Brady,  H.  D.  Foster,  Robert  Story,  Edgar  Cowan, 
Susan  Marchand,  Isabella  McClelland,  David  F'ullwood.  John  Mc- 
Williams,  Sarah  Miller,  Alex.  McKinney,  Margaret  Coulter,  Alfred  T. 
King,  Ann  Brady,  J.  M.  Moritz,  S.  B.  Ramsey,  Robert  Kennedy, 
Margaret  McLaughlin,  Jno.  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Israel  Uncapher,  Margaret 
Buzzard,  A.  Lowry,  Simon  Drum." 

FIRST  TRUSTEES  UNDER  THE  CHARTER. 

The  first  trustees  elected  under  this  charter  were   elected  at  a  con 
gregational    meeting    held    December    17,     1849.    of    which     Randal 
McLaughlin  was  chairman  and  Jacob  Welty  was  secretary.      They  are 
as  follows  : 

1850  -Dr.  John  Morrison,  Jno.  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.,  John 
McClelland,  Robert  Story,  John  VV.  Turney. 

SUBSEQUENT    TRUSTEES. 

1851-2 — Dr.  John  Morrison,  John  McClelland,  John  W.  Turney, 
Jno.  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.,  George  W.  Clarke. 

1853 — Dr.  John  Morrison,  Jno.  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.,  John 
McClelland,  John  W.  Turney,  Richard  Coulter,  Esq. 

1854 — Jno.  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Samuel  B.  Ramsey,  John  W. 
Turney,  John  M,  Mace,  John  McClelland,  Jr. 

1855— H.  Y.  Brady,  R-  Coulter,  Esq.,  John  M.  Laird,  Esq., 
John  McClelland,  Jr..  Daniel  Welty  ;  D.  W.  Shryock  elected  March 
22,  in  place  of  Mr.  McClelland,  who  had  died. 

1856-7-8 -H.  Y.  Bradv,  R.  Coulter,  Esq.,  Daniel  Welty  (re- 
signed February  5.  1858),  D.  W.  Shryock;  W.  H.  Markle,  Esq., 
father  of  Mrs.  Welty  McCullogh,  elected  February  17,  in  j^lace  of 
Daniel  Welty  resigned. 

1859 — John  M.  Laird,  Esq.,  H.  Y.  Brady,  Esq.,  Jno.  Armstrong, 
Jr.,  Esq.,  George  W.  Turney,  Richard  Coulter,  Esq. 

1860-1-2-3 — There  is  no  record  of  any  trustees.  Some  of  those 
most  interested  in  the  church's  temporal  affairs  were  in  the  army  most 
of  this  time,  and  so  exciting  were  the  times  that  the  finances  of  the 
church  probably  received  but  little  attention. 

1864-5-6 — Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  J.  M.  Laird,  Esq.,  Jno. 
Armstrong,  George  Turney,  R.  B.  Patterson. 


24 

1867 — John  M.  Laird,  Esq.,  Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  James  R. 
McAfee,  Esc].,  R.  B.  Patterson,  James  A.  Logan,  Esq. 

1868-9 — Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  James  A.  Logan,  Esq.,  John  M. 
Laird,  Esq.,  J.  R.  McAfee,  Esq.,  Dr.  John  Morrison. 

1870 — H.  P.  Laird,  Esq  ,  Alexander  Culbertson,  D  W.  Shryock, 
Harrison  Zcllers,  S.  Raltson  Patterson. 

1S71 — H.  P.  Laird,  Esq.,  Will  Brown,  Morrison  Underwood, 
Harry  Zellers,  Raltson  Patterson. 

SOME  BUSINESS  MATTERS. 

Among  the  principal  items  of  expenses,  aside  from  the  pastor's 
salary,  in  the  olden  time  were  sexton's  salary,  twenty  dollars  a  year 
usually,  and  bills  for  coal  and  candles,  and  sperm  oil  after  the  lamps 
were  put  in  in  1836, 

PATTY  MORGAN. 

A  woman  of  color  served  the  church  as  sexton  for  many  a  long 
year.  Whether  she  was  a  success  in  the  business  or  not,  history  does 
not  relate,  but  when  she  gave  a  receipt  for  her  quarter's  salary  she 
always  made  her  mark.  As  she  is  said  to  have  been  a  tidy  woman  she 
probably  did  not  leave  the  same  when  she  "dusted  the  clnirch.  One 
James  Chart  also  took  care  of  the  church  for  a  time.  It  is  said  that 
about  the  midst  of  the  service  he  would  pass  around  the  house  and 
snuff  the  candles  with  great  dignity  and  solemnity.  Li  later  times 
notiiing  better  than  the  examination  of  a  thermometer  in  the  midst  of 
the  service  has  given  the  sexton  an  opportunity  to  let  his  light  shine 
before  the  congregation.  Ann  Rogers,  a  very  worthy  woman,  took 
care  of  the  old  church  along  in  the  "forties"  Messrs.  Hubbard  and 
Johnston,  two  gentlemen  of  color,  took  care  of  the  second  church 
building  in  its  earlier  years.  Mrs.  Fleming  acted  as  sexton  in  the 
time  of  Mr.  Gill's  pastorate. 

SALE  OF  PEWS  IN  THE  SECOND  CHURCH. 

When  the  second  church  building  was  completed  the  congrega- 
tion sold  the  pews  to  help  pay  for  it.  The  sale  took  place  February 
9,  1849.  T^h^  pastor's  salary  was  raised  by  subscription.  The 
financiering  about  this  time  does  not  seem  to  have  been  an  unqualified 
success.  The  congregation  would  doubtless  have  agreed  that  it  is 
easier  to  deal  with  a  surplus  than  with  a  deficit.  However,  the 
ordinary  congregation  knows  no  more  about  a  surplus  than  the  average 
politician  knows  about  the  tariff.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
congregation  determined  on  a  new  dejiarture.  On  March  S,  1855, 
Richard  Coulter,  Esq.,  and  Daniel  Welty  were  appointed  a  committee 
of  the  trustees  to  appraise  the  church  pews  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
an  assessment  thereon.  This  committee  reported  at  a  meeting  of  the 
board  held  the  following  day,  and  an  assessment  of  ten  per  cent,    of 


25 

the  valuation  of  the  pews  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the 
pastor's  salary.  At  first  the  pews  which  had  been  sold  and  conveyed 
were  exempted  from  this  assessment,  but  at  a  meeting  held  soon  after, 
this  action  was  reconsidered  and  all  the  pews  were  made  subject  to  as- 
sessment. Just  before  Mr.  Gill  became  pastor  the  assessment  was 
increased  five  per  cent.  In  less  than  a  year  after  Mr.  Gill  was  install- 
ed a  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
into  consideration  the  j^ropriety  of  increasing  the  pastor's  salary.  On 
motion  of  H.  P.  Laird  Esq  ,  seconded  by  D.  W.  .Shryock,  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  to  raise  the  pastor's  salary  to  twelve  hundred 
dollars. 

In  1852  the  pulpit  in  the  main  audience  room  was  removed  to 
the  basement  and  a  new  one  put  in  its  place,  and  this  one  was  super- 
ceded by  anotlier,  and  other  improvements  made  during  Mr.  Gill's 
pastorate,  of  which  he  will  doubtless  speak  in  detail. 

LEADERS  OF  THE  SlNCilNG  BEFORE    THE  PRESENT  PASTORATE. 

.The  church  had  no  choir  until  near  the  time  that  the  first  church 
building  was  abandoned.  The  leader  or  leaders  of  the  singing,  for 
there  were  sometimes  two,  sat  in  a  seat  just  in  front  of  the  high  pulpit, 
in  front  of  which  was  a  stationery  book-rest,  which  consisted  of  one 
long  board  raised  to  a  convenient  height,  behind  which  the  singers 
stood  when  they  rose  to  lead  the  worship. 

William  Ramsey,  an  elder,  and  James  Nichols,  Esq.,  were  among 
those  who  performed  this  service  in  early  days.  The  singing  was 
hearty  after  it  had  once  got  fairly  started,  but  the  first  or  second  at- 
tempt was  not  always  sure  of  being  "a  go." 

THE    FIRST    CHOIR. 

Prof.  Lucian  Cort,  who  taught  a  singing  school,  heljjcd  to  train 
the  first  choir,  and  sang  with  them  some,  both  in  the  old  and  second 
church  buildings.  James  B.  Welty,  grandson  of  Hon.  James  Brady, 
was  one  of  the  principal  leaders  in  the  early  days.  Among  the  other 
singCTs  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  choir  till  my  pasto- 
rate began,  were  Bell  McLaughlin,  Lizzie  FuUwood  (Mrs.  Sheriff  Kil- 
gore,  mother  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Sloan  and  Lizzie  Kilgore,  two  of  the  princi- 
pal soprano  singers  in  my  pastorate),  Ann  Welty  (Mrs.  McCausland), 
Harriet  Moritz  (Mrs.  Byers  Kuhns),  Bell  Kuhns  (Mrs.  T.  J.  Barclay), 
E^liza  Kuhns  (Mrs.  Ed.  J.  Keenan  ),  Sarah  McLaughlin  (Mrs.  Judge 
Stcck),  Martha  McLaughlin,  Maggie  McLaughlin,  Fannie  McLaugh- 
lin, Miss  Sade  FuUwood  (Mrs  James  M  Laird),  Miss  Agnes  Mont 
gomery.  Miss  Mary  Lowry,  Miss  Bell  FuUwood,  Miss  Emily  Drum, 
Miss  Harriet  Clarke,  Miss  Martha  Moorhead  (Mrs.  Keener). 

MEN    .DINGERS. 

.\mong  the  men  singers  were  William  Muffley,  James  Beatty, 
Mike  Fishel,  Dr.  Boice  (Leader),  Charlie  Conymire,  Mr.  Long 
(ticket  agent),  Mr.  Francis  (  Leader),  Superintendet  of  gas  wokrs,)  D. 


26 

W.  Shryock  (Leader),  Frank  Smith,  Dr.  M.  B.  Gaut.  The  above  are 
not  given  in  the  order  of  their  service,  as  it  was  impossible  for  me  to 
do  so  exactly. 

ORGANISTS. 

After  the  organ  was  introduced  in  the  second  church.  Miss  Lizzie 
Foster,  now  Mrs.  Col.  Long,  frequently  came  in  and  played  for  the 
choir,  and  Miss  Kate  Russell,  now  Mrs.  Gill,  was  the  organist  for 
quite  a  while. 

THE  SABBATH  SCHOOL. 

The  first  Sabbath  School  was  organized  in  1816.  The  preamble 
and  constitution  then  adopted,  together  with  the  names  of  its  original 
members  and  supporters  are  here  given  : 

October,  1816 — Sunday  School. 

"Christianity  is  at  once  a  system  of  faith  and  of  practice.  It 
requires  not  only  an  unreluctant  assent  of  the  whole  mind  to  the  truth 
of  its  doctrines  and  the  efficacy  of  its  provisions  for  the  salvation  of 
the  souls  of  men  ;  but  also  an  unhesitating  obedience  to  the  precepts 
it  prescribes,  and  a  cheerful  discharge  of  the  duties  it  enjoins.  She 
who  would  demonstrate  the  soundness  of  her  faith,  must  be  careful 
that  it  produces  the  fruit  of  good  works  ;  for  "this  is  a  faithful  saying, 
and  these  things  I  will  that  thou  affirm  constantly,  that  they  which 
have  believed  in  God  might  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works." 
The  duties  of  Christian  professors  are  various  and  are  affected  by  the 
different  situations  which  they  may  occupy  in  life.  Every  rank,  age, 
and  sex  have  those  which  more  particularly  belong  to  themselves. 
Whether  it  be  founded  on  some  dictate  of  Nature,  or  have  grown  out 
of  the  modifications  of  civil  society,  it  would  appear  that  the  forma- 
tion of  the  young  mind,  and  its  induction  into  the  paths  of  knowledge 
and  of  piety,  belonged  more  exclusively  to  the  female  sex.  The  prac- 
tice both  in  England  and  America  has  accorded  with  this  position. 
In  both,  of  late  years,  institutions  for  the  support  of  the  indigent, 
and  the  instruction  of  the  ignorant,  have  been  extensively  established 
and  liberally  supported,  and  generally  under  female  auspices.  Among 
these  institutions,  that  of  the  Suntlay  School  appears  to  have  met,  in  a 
peculiar  manner,  with  the  smile  of  Divine  Approbation.  Through 
their  instrumentality,  many  thousands,  both  in  this  country  and  across 
the  Atlantick,  who  have  previously  been  immured  in  the  mists  of 
ignorance  and  wandering  in  the  mazes  of  error,  have  been  enabled  to 
read  and  to  understand  "the.  records  of  eternal  truth" — have  been 
reclaimed  from  ignorance  to  knowledge,  and  from  the  loathsomeness 
of  vice  to  the  beauty  of  holiness.  That  effects,  such  as  these,  have 
flowed  from  the  establishment  of  Sunday  Schools,  has  now  become 
matter  of  record.  That  such  are  again  likely  to  flow,  if  they  be 
founded  with  proper  views,  and  conducted  on  projjer  principles, 
seems  to  admit  of  but  little  doubt.  That  such  effects  are  desirable, 
even  the  skeptick,  it  is  believed,  could  hardly  prevail   on    himself  to 


27 

controvert.  Impressed  with  the  truth  of  these  sentiments,  and  anx- 
ious to  become  agents  in  bringing  benefits  so  great  within  the  reach  of 
the  poor  and  the  ignorant  among  ourselves,  those  whose  names  are  un- 
dersigned, residents  in  the  borough  of  Greensburgand  its  vicinity,  have 
agreed  to  unite  their  efforts  for  the  establishment  and  support  of  a 
Sunday  School  on  the  following  conditions  : 

I.  The  society  shall  be  called  "The  Female  Sunday  School 
Association  of  Greensburg. " 

II.  There  shall  be  no  other  condition  of  admittance  into  the  as- 
sociation than  those  of  having  attained  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
and  of  subscribing  to  these  Articles. 

III.  As  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  subscribers  shall  have  been 
obtained  (and  less  than  sixteen  shall  not  be  deemed  sufficient),  they 
shall  be  convened  at  some  convenient  place  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 
from  among  themselves,  five  members  for  the  purpose  of  conducting 
the  affairs  of  the  institution,  who  shall  be  called  "Directresses  ;"  and 
one  member  as  Treasurer. 

IV.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directresses  to  provide  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  school ;  to  preserve  its  discipline  ;  to  procure 
such  assistant  teachers  as  may  be  necessary,  and  to  regulate  the  order 
of  their  attendance,  and  to  establish  such  system  of  rewards  and  en- 
couragements as  they  shall  from  time  to  time  deem  expedient,  and 
generally  to  superintend  the  affairs  of  the  association  and  the  business 
of  the  school.  That  they  may  be  the  better  enabled  to  do  this,  they 
shall  have  power  to  lay  on  their  subscribers  contributions  to  any 
amount  not  exceeding  three  dollars  a  year,  and  to  call  for  payment  of 
the  same  at  such  times  and  in  such  portions,  as,  in  their  opinion,  the 
interests  of  the  institution  may  require.  They  shall  also  have  power 
to  establish  such  By-Laws  as  may  appear  to  them  to  be  necessary. 
For  the  more  orderly  conducting  of  business,  it  shall  be  their  duty  to 
choose  one  of  their  number  to  preside  at  their  meetings,  and  another  to 
keep  a  record  of  their  proceedings. 

V.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  receive  and  safely 
keep  all  monies  accruing  to  the  association,  either  from  contributions, 
donations,  or  otherwise,  and  the  same  to  pay  out  under  order  of  the 
Board  of  Directresess  ;  to  keep  an  accurate  account  of  all  monies  by  her, 
as  Treasurer,  either  received  or  expended,  which  account  shall  at  all 
times  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  Directresses,  or  any  of  them, 
and  to  lay  before  the  society,  at  each  of  their  stated  meetings,  a  state- 
ment of  the  funds. 

VI.  Such  ladies  or  gentlemen  as  may  offer  their  services  as  assist- 
ant teachers  in  the  school,  shall  have  their  names  entered  on  the  rec- 
ord as  "Friends  to  the  institution,"  and  the  thanks  of  the  society  shall 
be  transmitted  to  them  by  the  President. 

VII.  The  subscribers  agree  to  convene  once  in  every  six  months  to 
receive  a  report  of  the  progress  of  the  school,  and  of  the  state  of  the 
funds.  They  also  agree  that  that  they  will  respectively  use  their  influ- 
ence to  procure  the  attendance  of  the  children  on  the  school. 


28 

VIII.  The  Directresess  and  Treasurer  shall  hold  their  appointment 
for  one  year  from  the  time  of  their  election. 

IX.  At  all  elections,  after  the  first,  no  member  shall  be  allowed 
to  vote,  who  shall  not  have  paid  up  the  whole  of  the  requisitions  of 
the  preceding  year. 

THE    NAMES    OF    THE    MEMBERS    OF    THE     FEMALE    SUNDAY    SCHOOL    ASSO- 
CIATION   OF    GREENSBURG. 

H.  C.  D.  Findlay,  Sophia  Cassilly,  Jane  T.  Foster,  Jane  Gibson, 
Anna  Brown,  R.  Morrison.  Statira  Young,  Sidney  Alexander,  Isabella 
Graham,  Mary  Grant,  Ann  Drum,  Frances  Felt,  Catharine  Marchand, 
Mrs.  Macklin,  Mrs.  Deniston,  Mrs.  E.  Horbach,  Jane  Guthrie,  Lydia 
Morrow,  Jane  Fleming,  Ann  Armstrong,  Margaret  McDowell,  S.  A. 
Reed,  Peggy  Coulter,  Sarah  T.  Biddle,  Mary  McKinney,  Rachel  Brady, 
Nancy  Williams,  Mrs.  Crider,  Mrs.  Hardgrave,  Mrs.  Beaver.  Mrs. 
Hurwick,  Mrs  Whiten,  Jane  Graham,  Elizabeth  Postlethwaite,  Susan- 
na Kern,  Eliza  Reed,  Elizabeth  Kuhns,  Sophia  Biddle,  Elizabeth  Flee- 
ger,  Mrs.  E.  Singer,  Sarah  Clark,  Lois  Armstrong,  Mrs.  Morfet. 

DIRECTRESSES. 

The  first  Directresses  were  :  Mrs.  A.  Drum,  Mrs.  A.  Armstrong, 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Reed,  Miss  S.  T.  Biddle,  and  Mi,ss  P.  Coulter. 

In  1817  Mrs.  Ann  Drum  was  Secretary. 

In  1818  Mrs.  Henrietta  Findlay  was  Secretary  and  Mrs.  Sophia 
Cassilly  was  Treasurer. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Morrow, 
Dec.  8,  181 7.  The  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  elect  Directresses. 
Frequent  notices  of  the  association's  meetings,  and  calls  on  the  mem- 
bers to  pay  their  dues  appear  in  the  Greensburg  Register  of  about 
that  date. 

A    BRIEF    NOTICE  OF    THE  FIRST    DIRECTRESSES. 

Mrs.  Ann  Drum  was  the  mother  of  Gen.  Dick  Drum,  and  of  Miss 
Emily  Drum,  the  latter  one  of  the  school's  best  and  most  devoted 
teachers. 

Mrs.  A.  Armstrong  was  the  wife  of  George  Armstrong,  Esq.,  one 
of  the  early  lawyers  of  Greensburg. 

Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Reed  was  the  wife  of  Judge  Reed.  She  had  for- 
merly been  married  to  an  officer  of  the  war  of  1S12. 

Miss  S.  T.  Biddle  was  a  school  teacher. 

Miss  P.  Coulter  was  the  sister  of  Judge  Richard  and  Eli  Coulter, 
and  aunt  of  Alexander  and  Gen.  Richard  Coulter. 

A  Miss  Debarthold,  a  school  teacher,  was  a  Directress  at  a  later 
date. 

The  school  was  not  a  denominational  one,  and  yet  it  was  largely 
supported  by  Presbyterians,  and  was  mainly  under  their  control. 


29 


MISS  mar(;aret  coulter.. 


Miss  Margaret,  or  as  she  is  better  known,  Miss  Peggy  Coulter, 
was  the  originator  of  the  school  For  nearly  fifty  years  she  was  its 
leading  spirit,  and  when  she  died  she  made  a  bequest  of  a  hundred 
dollars  in  its  favor.  Her  classes  were  mostly  composed  of  young 
men  or  boys,  and  most  of  the  older  men  still  living  who  are  natives  of 
Greensburg,  were  at  one  time  under  her  instruction.  One  of  these, 
now  a  prominent  lawyer,  says  of  her:  "She  was  an  elegant  teacher. 
She  had  a  wonderful  stock  of  knowledge  which  she  could  use  in 
teaching,  and  whenever  she  met  those  who  had  once  belonged  to  her 
class,  no  matter  what  their  aige  or  position,  they  were  still  her  Sab- 
bath school  scholars."  She  has  been  represented  to  lue  as  having 
been  a  very  handsome  woman,  and  she  was  certainly  a  very  remark- 
able one. 

EARLY  DATE  OF  THE  SCHOOL. 

The  Sabbath  School  of  Greensburg  dates  back  among  the  early 
Sabbath  Schools  of  the  country,  and  has  the  distinction  of  having 
been  originated  by  a  woman,  and  of  being  carried  on  for  many  years 
by  women.  The  preamble  to  its  constitution  and  the  constitution 
itself  are  something  of  curiosities  in  our  day,  and  it  is  interesting  to 
see  with  what  earnestness  and  gravity  those  who  framed  these  set 
about   what  was  then  the  new  work  of  the  Sabbath  School. 

We  live  in  an  age  when  most  things  seem  to  be  taken  for  granted, 
and  had  we  lived  in  the  time  of  our  fathers  we  would  probably  have 
omitted  a  large  part  of  the  "Declaration"  of  Independence  and  just 
gone  on  with  the  Independence  itself. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  SCHOOL  PRIOR  TO  THE  PRESENT  PASTORATE. 

Besides  the  Directresses  already  mentioned,  the  officers  of  the 
school,  as  far  as  known,  have  been   as  follows  : 

SUPERINTENDENTS. 

John  Black,  son  of  the  first  stated  supply,  and  an  elder  ;  Smith 
Agnew,  an  elder  ;  Samuel  P.  Brown,  M.  D.,  an  elder;  John  Arm- 
strong, Sr.,  Esq.,  an  elder;  William  Ramsey,  an  elder;  John 
McClelland,  Daniel  Welty,  1  homas  L.  Drum,  D.  W.  Shryock,  an 
elder,  and  Will  Brown. 

ASSISTANT  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

Robert  B.  Patterson,  Esq.,  a  young  lawyer;  M.  B.  Gaut,  then 
Principal  of  the  public  schools,  now  a  physician  at  Clifton  Springs ; 
S.  Ralston  Patterson,  now  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 

SECRETARIES. 

Jas.  M.  Lainl,  editor  of  the  Argus,  son  of  John  M.  Laird,  Esq.; 
Jas.  B.  Welty,  son  of  Jacob  ;  John  A.  Marchand,  Esq.,  John  Stewart, 
Wm,  Totten,  Jas.  A.  Logan,  Esq.,  afterward  Judge,  and  now  Assistant 


3° 

Solicitor  P.  R    R.;  Van  Laird,  editor  of  the  Argus— son   of  John  M. 
Laird,  Esq. 

TEACHERS. 

Joseph  Russell,  editor,  father  of    Mrs.    Rev.    W.  H.  Gill ;   James 
Findlay,  son  of  Gov.  Findlay,  and  brother-in-law  of  Gov.  Francis  R. 
Shunk  ;     William  Black,  editor,  and  son  of  John  ;   Eliza  Black,  sister 
of  William  ;   Mr.  Farnsworth  ;   Mrs.    Eliza  King,  aunt  of  Mrs.   Susan 
Marchand  ;   John  Ramsey,  editor  of  Greensburg  Gaeette.      His  people 
were    Methodists.     Joseph    Montgomery,    uncle    of    Alexander    and 
Misses    Agnes   and   Emily ;     Elizabeth    Montgomery,    W.  W.  Wood- 
end,    teacher    in  the    Academy,    afterward    Dr.     Woodend,    pastor 
aj:  Saltsburg;     John   Lloyd,   classmate   of    Woodend,  -  Missionary  to 
China  ;     Edward  Geary,   brother  of  Gov.  Geary,  afterward   Dr.    Ed- 
ward Geary,  of  Oregon  ;    John   Nichols,  elder,   grandfather   of   Will 
Brown,  and  great  grandfather  of  Sam  T.  Brown,  Sr.,  and  Millie  Eyster 
Brown;   James  Nichols,  Esq.,  son  of  John;   Dr.  Postlethwaite,  Matil- 
da Postlethwaite  (Mrs.  W.  W.  Woodend),  Sidney  Postlethwaite  (Mrs. 
Dr.  King),  Ann  Postlethwaite,  Robert  Armstrong,  Philip  Kuhns,  Mrs. 
Mary  Welty  (wife  of  Henry  Welty.  Jr.,  the  elder),  Miss  Mary  Moritz, 
John  Craig,  Randall  McLaughlin,  elder,    Miss    Martha    McLaughlin, 
daughter  of  Randall  ;  Mrs.  Rebecca  Hacke,  daughter  of  Randal  Mc- 
Laughlin, and  daughter-in-law  of  Dr.  N.    P.    Hacke  ;    Mr.  Corbin,   a 
school   teacher,   and  brother-in-law  of   Gen.  Grant  ;     Joseph  Taylor, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Coulter,   mother  of  Gen.    Coulter;     Miss  Isabella    Mc- 
Clelland, sister  of  John,  superintendent ;   Miss  Seabrook,  sister  of  one 
of  the  surveyors  of   the    P.    R.    R.      One  of  her  scholars  says,  "She 
was  one  of  the  best  teachers  that  ever  was."     William  Domer,  survey- 
or P.  R.  R.;   John  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.,  son  of  superintendent ;    Miss 
Emily  Drum,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Ann  Drum  ;  Mrs.   Mary  Foster,  aunt 
of  Henry    D.  Foster,  a  wonderful  Bible    scholar,    and    a  remarkable 
woman  ;   Miss  Maria  Smith  (daughter  of  the    pastor),    J.  R.  McAfee, 
Esq.,  lawyer,  and  editor  of  Tribune  and  Herald ;  Mrs.  Louisa  McAfee, 
wife  of  J.  R.  McAfee,  Esq.;   Miss  Lizzie  Welty,  daughter  of  Daniel — 
died   young  ;     Miss  Rebecca   Smith,    daughter  of    the  pastor,  and  an 
earnest  Sabbath  School  worker  ;   Mrs.  Sarali  Steck,  wife  of  sheriff  Dan 
Steck  ;   Miss  Kate  Laird,  daughter  of  John  M.  Laird,  Esq.;  Miss  Cook, 
Miss  Kate  Russell  (wife  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill),  Miss  Harriet  Clark,  Miss 
Agnes   Montgomery,    Miss  Hetty    Welty  (Mrs.  Van  Laird),  James  P. 
Smith,  Mrs.  James  B.  Welty,  Mrs.  William  Story,  Miss  Maggie  Story, 
Miss  Jane    McQuaide,  Miss    Emma    Welty    (daughter    of  Henry  and 
Hannah  Brady  Welty,  and  wife  of  Gen.  Coulter),   Miss   Kate  March- 
and (Mrs.  Alfred  Meason),  Miss  Sparks  Brown  (;Mrs.  J.  R.  Patterson), 
Mrs.  Laura  Mace,  Miss  Sarah  Siiryock    (Mrs.    Henry   F.    Cope),  Miss 
Louisa  McAfee  (dead),  daughter  of  J.  R.  McAfee,  Esq..  and  wife  of 
John  G.  Kirker;   Rev.  W.  H.  Gill,  Miss  Lizzie  Marchand  (Mrs.  Judge 
Logan),    Miss    McGinnis    (Mrs.    Goheen,  a    Missionary),    Miss  Belle 
Armstrong. 

Doubtless  the  names  of  some  faithful  Sabbath  School  workers  have 
been  omitted,  but  the  above  are  all  of  which  I  have  any  record. 


3^ 

During  Mr.  Gill's  pastorate  the  number  in  tlie  school  reached  one 
hundred  and  sixty.  The  records  of  the  schuol  during  his  pastorate  are 
pretty  full.  Those  of  the  earlier  pastorates  are  very  meagre.  The 
history  of  the  school  durii^g  my  pastorate  will  be  given  elsewhere. 

AUXILIARY  TRACT  SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1827.  The  lirst  article  of  its 
constitution  gives  the  name  and  object  of  the  society.      It  is  as  follows  : 

"Art.  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  'Auxiliary  Tract 
vSociety  of  Greensburg;'  the  object  of  which  shall  be  to  promote  the 
interests  of  evangelical  religion  and  sound  morality  in  this  vicinitv  by 
the  circulation  of  religious  tracts,  and  to  aid  the  American  Tract 
Society,  located  in  New  York  in  1825,  in  extending  its  operations  into 
destitute  parts  of  the  United  States  and  of  other  countries." 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  held  the  third  day  of  March,  1828, 
the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  Miss  Margaret  CouUer,  President  \ 
Lydia  M.  Biddle,  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  Mrs.  Morrow,  Mrs. 
Coulter,  Mrs.  E.  Singer,  Mrs.  Alexander,  Directors. 

What  became  of  this  society,  history  does  not  relate.  But  from 
this  little  scrap  of  history  left  us  we  learn  how  the  women  of  the 
olden  time  planned  and  organized  and  put  forth  efforts  for  the 
advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
They  were  ready  to  fall  in  promptly  with  the  great  religious  move- 
ments inaugurated  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  Thus  in 
1816,  the  year  in  which  the  first  Sunday  School  Union  of  the  country 
was  formed,  the  Greensburg  Sunday  School  was  organized,  and  in 
1827,  two  years  after  the  American  Tract  Society  came  into  being,  an 
auxiliary  was  formed  in  Greensburg.  Of  the  contributions  to  objects 
of  benevolence,  the  records  in  my  possession  are  but  fragmentary,  but, 
besides  the  schemes  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  to  which 
the  church  contributed,  the  Colonization  Society  seems  to  have  been 
one  which  frequently  shared  in  her  benefactions. 

A  FEMALE  PRAYERMEETING. 

Tradition  speaks  of  a  female  prayermeeting  having  been  main- 
tained here  in  years  gone  by.  But  those  who  prayed  were  willing  to 
have  their  prayers  registered  in  heaven  and  have  left  no  earthly  record. 
One  thing,  however,  is  certain,  the  churrh  of  Greensburg  has  been 
blest  with  some  as  godly  women  as  are  often  found  in  any  church  or 
cominunitv  ;  and  whether  her  prayermeetings  have  been  called  male 
or  female,  they  have  been  largely  supported  and  encouraged  by  the 
attendance  of  her  mothers  and  sisters. 

THE  WEEKLY   PRAYERMEETING. 

Of  the  origin  of  the  weekly  prayermeetings  even  tradition  itself 
is  silent.     Like    the  Sabbath  School  and  Tract  Society  already  men- 


32 

tioned,  it  was  probably  not  at  first  fully  identified  with  the  Presby- 
terian church.  However,  as  the  larger  part  of  the  English  speaking 
Christians  in  early  times  were  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  all  these 
institutions  were  from  the  first  largely  under  her  control.  In  1838 
Dr.  John  iMorrison,  Treasurer  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  was 
authorized  by  James  Brady  and  William  Ramsey,  elders  in  the  same, 
to  pay  a  bill  to  Randall  McLaughlin,  another  elder;  the  said  bill 
being  the  amount  of  expenses  incurred  by  the  "Prayermeeting  Society 
of  the  borough  of  Greensburg"  for  fuel  and  candles  used  while  meet- 
ing in  the  Court  House.  And  the  ground  on  which  the  pa)'ment  of 
the  bill  out  of  the  funds  of  the  church  was  justified,  was  that  the 
persons  comprising  this  society  contributed  their  proportion  to  these 
funds.  But  while  it  is  thus  evident  that  the  "Prayermeeting  Society 
of  the  borough  of  Greensburg"  was  composed  mainly  of  Presby- 
terians, still  it  is  also  evident  that  in  1838  it  was  not  fully  recognized  as 
a  part  of  the  church.  The  payment  of  the  bill  was  probably  not 
disputed,  nor  would  a  like  bill  be  disputed  at  the  present  day,  and 
yet  the  financial  support  of  the  prayermeeting  by  the  contributions  of 
the  entire  church  is  likely  to  involve  in  most  churches  the  question  of 
taxation  without  representation.  What  the  churches  were  doing 
before  they  .had  Sabbath  Schools,  prayermeetings,  and  missionary 
societies  it  would  be  rather  difficult  to  tell,  and  yet  those  were  the 
good  old  times  we  so  often  read  about  ;  and  every  one  of  these 
institutions  had  to  come  into  the  church  through  a  side  door,  and  it 
is  not  even  yet  so  many  years  since  they  were  generally  fully  recognized 
as  a  part  of  the  church  itself. 

MINISTERS    RAISED    IN    THE    CHURCH. 

It  ha-;  been  stated  that  this  church  never  raised  a  minister,  but 
that  is  not  a  strictly  accurate  statement.  The  Rev.  James  L.  Drum, 
of  San  Luis  Obispo,  California,  was  raised  in  this  church,  and  was  a 
communicant  member  of  it.  And  then,  what  church  has  a  better 
claim  to  having  raised  the  Rev.  James  P.  Siiiith,  than  this  one. 
There  are  probably  about  as  many  churches  claiming  the  Rev.  Ben  L. 
Agnew,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  while  living,  as  there  were  cities, 
claiming  Homer  after  he  was  dead.  But,  while  we  do  not  claim  the 
entire  credit  of  raising  him,  yet  we  would  have  it  understood  that  his 
father.  Smith  Agnew,  was  a  very  active  and  efficient  elder  in  this 
church  just  at  the  time  that  his  son  Ben  was  growing  up  to  manhood. 
Prof  E.  H.  Dickinson  united  with  this  church  by  certificate,  January 
29,  1876,  and  continued  a  member  of  it  until  he  was  ordained  to  the 
fiill  work  of  the  ministry,  Dec.  21,  1882.  He  is  now  pastor  of  the 
Pleasant  Grove  church  in  Blairsville  Presbytery,  and  is  also  a  very 
efficient  teacher  in  the  Greensburg  Ladies'  Seminary.  If  this  church 
dia  not  raise  him,  he  at  least  entered  the  ministry  from  it.  And 
then,  besides  what  the  church  has  done  in  the  way  of  raising  ministers, 
she  has  made  at  least  two  others  by  furnishing  their  "better  halves." 
Miss  Kate  Russell  married  Rev.  W.  H.  Gill,  now  of  Philadelphia,  and 
Miss  Anna  Houseman  married  Rev.  R.  H  Fulton,  of  Homer  City, 
Pa.,  and    what   would  either  of  these  ministers  have  been  but    for  the 


33 

church  of  Greensburg?  You  need' nt  try  to  answer  that  conundrum. 
For  want  of  time  it  is  resi)ectfully  referred  to  the  next  centennial. 
And  then,  besides  these  two,  the  church  has  had  scores  of  daughters 
who  would  have  made  good  preachers  wives,  if  they  had  only  been 
called  to  the  ministry.  Its  possibilities  in  that  direction  have  been 
simply  immense,  and  only  the  proverbial  stupidity  of  young  preachers 
in  things  matrimonial  has  prevented  them  from  being  realized. 

THE    CHURCH    AND    THE    LEGAL    PROFESSION. 

At  least  two  of  the  resident  President  Judges  of  this  Judicial  Dis- 
trict, were  Presbyterians,  viz  ;  Judge  J.  M.  Burrell  and  Judge  James 
A.  Logan.  It  is  only  a  short  time  since  Westmoreland  county  consti- 
tuted a  Judicial  District  by  itself,  and  in  earlier  times  a  number  of  the 
Judges  belonged  to  some  of  the  other  counties,  which  then  made  a  part 
of  it.  The  Greensburg  Bar  has  always  been  among  the  strongest  in 
the  State,  and  most  of  its  strongest  men  have  always  been  Presbyteri- 
ans. Major  John  B.  Alexander,  Judge  Richard  Coulter,  Alexander 
W.  Foster,  and  James  Findlay,  were  all  Presbyterians.  The  latter 
and  James  Buchanan  were  baptized  by  the  same  Presbyterian  minister. 
Dr.  John  King. 

Coming  to  a  later  date  we  fiud  the  foUowiaj;  Presbyterian  lawyers  : 

John  .Armstrong,  Sr. ,  George  Armstrong,  Paul  Morrow,  James 
Nichols,  Alexander  McKinney.,  James  Todd.  Henry  D.  Foster,  Edgar 
Cowan,  Albert  Marchand,  Henry  Marchand,  J.  A.  Coulter,  J.  J. 
Hazlett. 

Most  of  these  were  Presbyterians  by  birth,  and  a  few  of  them 
became  connected  with  the  church  through  their  marriage  relations. 

At  the  present  time  the  members  of  the  bar  are  more  generally 
distributed  among  the  various  churches  of  the  town  than  formerly, 
and  yet  a  large  proportion  of  them,  and  many  of  the  most  prominent, 
still  take  their  theology  "straight."  They  see  enough  of  human  na- 
ture in  the  practice  of  their  profession  to  make  them  firm  believers  in 
the  doctrine  of  total  depravity.  However,  on  the  doctrine  of  the  per- 
severance of  the  saints  they  may  not  be  just  so  sound  On  that  subject 
they  will  probably  be  disposed  to  only  "mildly  affirm."  But  I  like 
law)ers,  and  it  is  a  wonder  that  not  more  than  one  Presbyterian 
preacher  of  Greensburg   has  been  tempted  to  join  them. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    AND    THE    MEDICAL    PROFESSION. 

The  physicians  of  Greensburg,  like  the  lawyers,  have  been  largely 
Presbyterians.  Dr.  James  Postlethwaite  was  originally  an  Episcopalian, 
but  early'in  life  became  a  Presbyterian.  Perhaps  no  citizen  of  Greens- 
burg ever  stood  higher  as   a   physician,  a  gentleman,  and  a  Christian. 

Dr.  Alfred  T.  King,  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Postlethwaite,  and  father 
of  Emma,  Tillie,  and  Charlie,  of  this  place  and  Dr.  William  H.  King, 
of  West  Fairfield,  was  of  old  Covenanter  stock,  and  married  a 
Presbyterian. 


34 

Dr.  S.  T.  Brown,  grandfather  of  Sam  T.  Brown,  Sr.,  and  Millie 
Eyster  Brown,  was  an  elder  in  the  church. 

Drs.  John  Morrison,  Robert  Brown,  Samuel  Logan,  Frank  Mc- 
Conaughy,  H.  B.  Piper,  W.  K.  Young,  and  F.  J.  Withington  were 
former  members  or  adherents  of  this  church. 

At  the  present  time  about  one-half  the  physicians  of  Greensburg 
are  of  Presbyterian  proclivities,  and  a  number  are  communicant 
members. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    AND    THE    MILITARY. 

In  the  war  of  1812  Major  John  B.  Alexander  gained  a  distinction 
that  would  of  itself  have  made  his  name  illustrious,  had  not  his  sub- 
sequent attainments  at  the  bar  eclipsed  even  his  military  achievements. 

Gen.  Richard  C.  Drum  gained  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war, 
and  added  to  it  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  He  is  now  the  efficient 
Adjutant  General  of  the  United  States  army. 

Col.  James  Armstrong  was  Lieutenant  of  his  company  in  the 
Mexican  war,  but  had  command  of  it  the  greater  part  of  the  time. 
He  was  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  the  late  war. 

Col.  John  A.  Black,  though  not  a  member  of  this  church  during 
the  Rebellion,  is  a  member  now. 

Gen.  Richard  Coulter  served  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  entered 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  as  a  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  fought  from 
its  beginning  to  the  close.  It  is  very  generally  believed  that  if  he 
had  been  half  as  much  of  a  politician  as  he  was  a  soldier,  he  would 
have  come  home  with  a  higher  rank  than  that  of  Brigadier  General,  and 
then  many  are  of  the  opinion,  owing  to  his  disregard  of  danger, 
that  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  prayers  of  his  aunt  Peggy,  he  would 
not  have  come  home  alive  at  all.  He  was  wounded  three  times,  and 
was  once  reported  dead,  but  his  Aunt  received  the  friends  who  came  to 
break  the  news  to  her,  with  the  utmost  composure,  and  insisted 
that  the  report  could  not  be  true.  Her  faith  in  God  and  in  prayer 
was  wonderful,  and  deserves  to  go  on  record. 

There  are  many  others  who  in  these  wars  served  their  country 
faithfully  in  the  hours  of  her  need,  but  not  being  able  to  give  a 
complete  list,  I  have  not   attempted  to   give  the  record  in  full. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  AND  CIVIL  OFFICERS. 

The  church  has  had  many  members  or  adherents  who  have  been 
prominent  in  the  civil  affairs  of  the  Nation,  State,  and  County. 

Hon.  James  Brady  served  iu  the  House  of  Representatives  from 
1799  until  1803,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  and  served 
in  that  body  three  terms  till  1815.  He  thus  served  fifteen  consecutive 
terms  in  the  Legislature.  In  1821  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
Secretary  of  the  Land  Office,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  for 
three  years. 

Major  John  B.  Alexander  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, but  soon  became  disgusted  with  that  body   and    returned    home. 

Judge  Coulter  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  also  a 
member  of  Congress. 


35 

Hon.  James  Findlay  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  and   after- 
ward Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Hon.  Albert  G.  Marchand  was  a  member  of  Congress. 

Hon.  Henry  D.  Foster  was  a  member  of  Congress. 

Hon.  James  Todd  was  Attorney  General  of  the  State  under  Gov. 
Ritner. 

Hon.  Edgar  Cowan  was  United  States  Senator. 

Hon  J.  R.  McAfee  member  of  the  State  Legislature  and  Deputy 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

E.  F.  Houseman,  Assistant  U.  S.  Assessor,  Deputy  U.  S  Collec- 
tor,  and  Register  and   Recorder  of  the  county. 

Dr.  H.  B.  Piper  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 

W.  H.  Markle,  Esq.,  was  United  States  Collector. 

D,  W.  Shryock,  Esq.,  was  United  States  Assessor  and  afterward 
United  States  Collector. 

Hon.  VVelty  McCuUogh  is  the  present  member  of  Congress. 

With  one  or  two  exceptions  every  Sheriff  since  I  came  to  Greens- 
burg  has  been  a  Presbyterian,  and  when  a  choir  gallery  is  to  be  seated 
with  handsome  chairs,  or  a  church  debt  is  to  be  lifted,  the  help  of 
John  M.  Stewart,  Esq.,  has  shown  that  a  Presbyterian  sheriff  is  a 
handy  person  to  have  around.  Being  a  bachelor  his  pocket  book  is 
often  raided  by  tiie  Mite  Society,  and,  doubtless,  he  would  find  it 
cheaper  to  marry  that  institution,  or  at  least  a  part  of  it,  than  to 
attend  one  of  its  entertainments.  I  will  not  attempt  to  give  the  names 
of  members  and  adherents  of  the  church  who  have  held  county  offices, 
but  will  only  say  they  have  been  many,  and  not  one  of  them  was  ever 
even  suspected  of  malfeasance  in  office. 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  AND  THE  PRESS. 

John  M.  Snowden,  William  Graham,  Mrs.  Jane  Graham,  Joseph 
Russell,  Jolin  Black,  Paul  Morrow,  John  Ramsey,  John  Armstrong, 
Sr.,  Esq.,  John  M.  Laird,  Esq.,  and  D.  W.  Shryock  were  editors  or 
proprietors  of  papers  in  Greensburg  in  former  days,  and  all  were 
Presbyterians.  At  the  present  time  we  have  J.  R.  McAfee,  Esq., 
Maj.  Jas.  M.  Laird,  F.  V.  B.  Laird,  and  John  M.  Peoples,  who  com- 
prise the  Presbyterian  newspaper  fraternity  as  editors  and  proprietors. 
Among  those  of  former  days  there  were  five  elders  and  one  woman. 
This  speaks  well  for  the  press  of  Greensburg.  While  the  legal  and 
medical  professions  have  not  furnished  many  ruling  elders  for  the 
church,  yet  the  press  has  furnished  at  least  five,  and  nearly  all  the 
above  named  have  been  communicants  in  the  church.  And  this  is 
well.  The  Pulpit  and  the  Press  should  ever  go  hand  in  hand.  And 
it  were  also  well  if  among  tho.se  who  care  for  the  bodies  and  the 
estates  of  men  there  were  more,  who,  in  the  eldership  would  care  for 
the  spiritual  and  eternal  interests  of  these. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    AND    THE    BUSINESS    COMMUNITY. 

Among  the  men  who  as  merchants  at  an  early  day  gained   wealth 
and  standing  in  the  community,  I  may  mention    James  Brady  and  his 


36 

son,  Hugh  Y.  Brady.  Also  the  brothers  Jacob  and  Henry  Welty.  The 
two  former  were  Presbyterians  by  birth.  The  two  latter  became  con- 
nected with  the  church  through  marriage.  These,  together  with  the 
Alexanders,  the  Coulters,  the  Drums,  the  Postlethwaites..  the  Arm- 
strongs, and  the  Millers,  are  among  the  earliest  Presbyterians  who 
have  descendants  still  living  among  us.  It  is  true  the  Drums,  like  the 
Weltys,  were  originally  German  Reformed,  but,  like  many  of  the 
latter,  they  long  since  became  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  are  now  almost  without  exception  Presbyterians. 

THE    church's    character    AND    WORK. 

Such  then  is  an  outline  of  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Green.sburg.  I  have  sought  to  give  a  general  sketch  of  the  church, 
of  its  origin,  its  officers,  its  members  and  supporters,  and  also  of  the 
societies  through  whose  instrumentality  the  life  of  the  church  has 
been  maintained  and  its  work  has  been  promoted.  I  have  sought  to 
show  of  what  materials  it  has  been  composed,  and  the  kind  of  men 
and  women  who  have  held  the  Presbyterian  faitii  in  Greensburg, 
in  the  first  century,  of  the  church's  life.  It  is  evident  that  from  the 
beginning  the  church  has  occupied  an  important  position,  and  that  it 
has  been. influenced  by,  and  has  exerted  an  influence  upon  some  of  the 
leading  minds  of  the  century.  How  well  it  has  performed  its  duty, 
improved  its  opportunities,  and  met  its  responsibilities  must  be  left  to 
the  judgment  of  those  who  have  watched  its  career,  and  to  the  final  de- 
cision of  the  last  day.  With  the  sketches  to  be  given  by  former  pastors 
and  their  representatives,  and  the  reminiscences  by  other  friends,  the 
record  of  the  church's  first  century  will  be  as  complete  as  we  can  now 
make  it.  Doubtless  many  names  have  been  omitted,  and  many  worthy 
deeds  remain  untold.  Some  of  these  will  be  given  in  the  more  personal 
histories  of  former  pastors,  and  yet  some,  like  nameless  graves,  will 
remain  unknown  to  the  generations  following.  But  we  must  not 
forget  that  only  a  part  of  a  church's  life  can  be  written  at  best.  Only 
in  the  book  of  God's  remembrance  will  this  be  found  complete. 
How  much  the  church  owes  to  her  silent  living,  and  to  her  forgotten 
dead,  only  eternity  will  disclose.  Only  will  the  influence  which  these 
have  exerted  on  the  world  be  fully  known  when  the  grave  and  the 
sea  shall  give  up  their  dead.  May  the  same  God  who  led  the  fathers 
and  mothers  through  the  wilderness  of  the  church's  beginning  be 
with  their  sons  and  daughters  in  that  goodly  heritage  to  which  his 
Providence  has  brought  them,  and  may  the  church's  future  ministers 
and  members  have  grace  given  them  to  meet  their  ever  enlarging 
opportunities  and  increasing  responsibilities.  A  church  crowned  with 
a  century  of  heaven's  blessings,  and  with  the  faith  and  prayers,  the 
gifts  and  efforts  of  a  pious  ancestry  through  a  hundred  years,  ought  not 
only  to  feel  the  weight  of  a  great  responsibility,  but  should  also  be  filled 
with  that  courage  and  earnestness  of  purpose  born  of  gratitude  at  the 
remembrance  of  God's  goodness.  As  we  pass  the  first  anniversary  in 
the  church's  life  of  centuries,  we  only  pause  long  enough  to  raise  to 
God  our  Ebenezer,  and  then  pass  on  to  the  conflicts  and  the  conquests 
of  the  future. 


'''-^■-  H-^LIAM  SVV^'^'^'- 


^ 


37 


A  SKETCH  OF  THE  FIRST  PASTORATE 

Rev.  William  Speer,  1802-2Q. 


It  has  been  committed  to  me  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
first  pastorate  of  this  church.  There  are  details  as  to  local 
affairs  and  statistics  of  membership  and  finance,  which  the  in- 
quiries of  your  excellent  pastor  and  session  will  supply.  There 
are  reminiscenses  of  prominent  individuals,  and  of  families  who 
were  useful  and  honored  in  the  church  and  the  community, 
which  can  more  justly,  and  as  to  the  particulars  necessary  to  give 
them  life  and  interest,  be  pictured  to  you  from  the  personal  de- 
scriptions or  the  written  records  of  the  several  faithful,  intelli- 
gent and  eminent  ministers  whom  it  has  pleased  God  to  give  sub- 
quently  to  this  people.  But  manifestly  there  are  other  me- 
morials of  the  first  regular  pastorate  of  a  Presbyterian  church, 
planted  in  what  was  the  first  seat  of  civil  government  established 
in  Pennsylvania  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  and  that 
in  length  embraced  more  than  a  quarter  of  the  century  of  that 
church's  life  which  we  are  now  met  to  commemorate,  which 
must  possess  a  far  more  than  temporary  and  local  interest. 

The  period  was  one  which,  in  some  respects,  has  not  had, 
indeed  cannot  have,  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  this  region;  one 
in  which  its  religious  and  political  institutions  and  character  took 
their  permanent  form;  one  in  which  there  went  forth  hence,  also, 
influences  which  have  been  felt  throughout  the  nation. 

The  opening  of  the  nineteenth  century  was  memorable  for  a 
great  and  universal  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the 
Christian  world.  This  started  everywhere  anew  its  spiritual  life, 
and  brought  into  existence  many  forms  of  effort  in  missions,  in 
education,  for  the  translation  and  dissemination  of  the  Scriptures 
and  religious  publications,  and  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferings  and 
wants  of  mankind. 

The  new  immigration  from  the  Atlantic  States  and  from 
Great  Britain  in  the  vast  and  rich  valley  of  the  Ohio,  unrestrain- 
ed, tempted  to  vice,  excitable,  enterprising,  were  the  subjects  of 
some  of  the  most  powerful  manifestations  of  the  Spirit's  influ- 
ence, and  the  instrumentality  of  setting  in  motion  some  of  the  prin- 
cipal organized  agencies  of  Christianity  and  philanthropy  related 


38 

to  the  nation  and  the  world.  They  saw  the  grandeur  and  the  riches 
of  our  country;  they  were  aroused  by  the  necessities  and  the 
perils  of  direct  contact  with  Indian  heathenism;  they  were  edu- 
cated by  the  sufferings  and  trials  of  their  novel  and  difficult  cir- 
cumstances to  originate  and  to  foster  such  efforts  and  institutions. 

It  pleased  God  to  send  here  in  1802  the  Rev.  William  Speer. 
He  was  then  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  Born  near  Gettysburg, 
he  had  graduated  and  studied  theology  at  Dickinson  college, 
under  the  celebrated  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Nisbet,  w^hom  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon,  when  first  invited  from  Scotland  to  the  presidency  of 
Princeton  college,  recommended,  instead  of  himself,  for  that  po- 
sition, as  more  suitable  than  any  other  person  within  his  knowl- 
edge. He  had  spent  some  months  in  New  York  city,  as  an  asso- 
ciate with  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Rodgers,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
church;  had  made  several  evangelistic  tours  in  the  states  of  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  as  far  south  as  Charleston, 
S.  C;  had  been  pastor  for  three  years  in  Chambersburg,  Pa.; 
and  had  spent  four  years  in  Chillicothe,  the  capital  of  the  new  Ter- 
ritory of  the  Northw^est,  and  while  in  Southern  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky had  taken  part  in  the  transactions  of  the  great  revival  in 
that  region.  The  Rev.  John  Black,  an  able  and  fervent  preacher, 
born  in  South  Carolina,  who  had  been  the  pastor  of  Mr.  Speer's 
family  for  twenty  years,  near  Gettysburg,  and  the  spiritual  guide 
of  his  youth,  had  "been  led  to  Greensburg  in  1800  to  spend  a  year 
and  a  half.  Mr.  Black,  while  at  his  old  home  in  the  East,  during 
the  summer  of  1802,  told  Mr.  Speer  of  the  interesting  features 
of  this  region,  and  opened  the  way  for  a  visit  here  in  the  fall. 
This  people  at  once  set  aside  some  advances  from  another 
quarter,  and  united  in  earnest  solicitations  that,  as  they  urged, 
he  should  be  their  "spiritual  teacher."  He  returned  again  in 
December.  The  formal  acceptance  of  the  call  to  Unity  and 
Greensburg  churches  was  given  in  presbytery  at  Laurel  Hill 
church  on  April  19th,  1803.  The  pastoi-al  connection  was  con- 
tinued until  presbytery,  meeting  in  this  church,  dissolved  it,  at 
his  request,  on  April  8th,  1829. 

The  key  note  of  this  long  pastorate  was  struck  at  once  in  the 
first  sermon,  which  was  preached  on  October  loth,  1802,  at  Unity. 
Its  theme  was  that  glorious  Prince  and  Redeemer  who  appeared, 
"now  once  in  the  end  of  the  world,  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice 
of  himself,"  and  who  "unto  them  that  look  for  him  shall  appear 
the  second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation."  (Heb.  9,  26-28.) 
It  was  followed  in  the  afternoon  by  one  on  "Grieve  not  the  Holy 
Spirit."  (Eph.  4:30.)  The  first  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Speer 
in  Greensburg,  on  October  14th,  was  from  the  conclusion  of  the 
Savior's  admonitions,  in  the  sermon  on  the  mount,  as  to  anxious 
care  for  the  treasure  and  the  comforts  of  earth:  "Seek  ye  first 
the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness,  and  all  these  things 
shall  be  added  unto  you."  (Mat.  6:  S3-)  These  texts  reveal  the 
grand  centre  and  the   impelling  and  regulating  force   of  all  his 


I 


39 

teaching  and  labors, — the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  priceless  gift  of  pardon  to  us 
and  to  the  whole  world  through  His  blood;  the  love  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  and  the  heavenly  riches  wliich  he  has  to  bestow;  the  per- 
sonal and  the  world-wide,  the  spiritual  and  the  material  blessings 
of  the  kingdom  of  God  among  men. 

The  year  1802  was  that  of  the  culmination  of  the  great  revival 
of  that  period.  We  can  trace  the  divine  preparations  for  it 
through  half  a  century  previous  ;  and  it  was  the  deep  and  world- 
wide preparation  for  the  mighty  religious,  and  political,  and 
material  advancements  of  our  own  time.  During  its  course  the 
chiuxhes  of  the  East,  on  account  of  their  torpid  formality  and 
the  infection  of  society  with  French  infidelity,  lost  no  little  of 
the  spiritual  blessings  which  God's  hand  held  outstretched  to 
bestow.  The  wild  and  unsettled  regions  further  West  went  to 
the  opposite  extreme  of  insane  excitement  and  disorder.  The 
terrific  pictures  of  hell  and  the  judgment,  and  of  the  fury  and 
wrath  of  the  Almighty  toward  sinners,  threw  the  imaginations  of 
the  people  into  phrensy,  and  convulsed  the  bodies  of  many  with 
epileptic  spasms,  so  that  they  writhed  and  wallowed  on  the  ground 
and  howled  like  wounded  wild  beasts.  In  Western  Pennsylvania, 
to  these  awful  truths  were  added  in  more  just  measure  the 
declarations  of  God's  infinite  mercy  through  Jesus  Christ  and 
the  invitations  of  the  gospel,  and  there  many  of  the  best  and 
most  healthful  fruits  of  that  revival  were  planted  and  multiplied. 
Mr.  Speer  preached  his  first  sermons  in  these  churches  on  the 
same  Sabbaths  of  October  in  which  were  held  in  this  region 
some  of  the  most  famous  of  the  gatherings  of  thousands  from 
every  quarter  to  spend  days  and  nights  together  in  continuous 
religious  exercises.  He  preached  the  law  throughout  the  course 
of  that  revival,  so  that  its  arrows  were  sharp  in  the  hearts  of  the 
King's  enemies  ;  but  he  pointed  from  that  right  hand  which 
taught  terrible  things  to  the  crown  of  righteousness,  the  anoint- 
ing of  gladness,  the  garments  smelling  of  myrrh  and  aloes  and 
cassia,  and  the  words  of  grace  poured  from  his  lips.  When  an 
excitable  man  or  women  has  arisen  under  the  sermon  and  shrieked 
out  in  some  wild  cry  and  fallen  down  in  a  spasm,  and  the  whole 
congregation  thus  been  thrown  into  a  momentary  panic,  he  would 
command  silence,  and  calmly  say,  "God  is  not  the  author  of  con- 
fusion, but  of  peace,  in  all  the  churches  of  the  saints  ;  let  this 
person  be  carried  out.  I  will  sit  down  and  wait  until  order  is 
restored."  Thus  he  avoided  many  of  the  extravagances  which 
occurred  elsewhere.  A  great  amount  of  pastoral  labor  was  done 
bv  him.  In  one  year,  usually,  families  were  visited  and  prayed 
wkh  at  their  homes  ;  in  the  next  year,  for  variety,  they  were 
gathered  into  neighborhood  assemblies  and  catechized  and 
instructed.  So  faithful  was  the  pastor  in  his  appointments  at  all 
seasons  that  after  his  death  his  family  could  remember  of  but  one 
sabbath  of  his  settled  ministry  in  which  he  had  failed  to  keep  those 
at  Unity,  and  on  that  one  so' terrible  was    the    storm   that,    as    it 


40 

afterwards  was  learned,  not  a  man  or  woman  of  the  congregation 
had  dared  to  breast  it  and  go  to  the  place  of  worship.  By  this 
wise  and  laborious  ministry  the  churches  grew  so  that  the  united 
charge  was  one  of  the  largest  and  strongest  in  Western  Penn- 
sylvania. The  number  of  the  membership  connected  with  the 
Greensburg  congregation  was  then,  however,  smaller  than  that  in 
Unity. 

The  history  of  many  of  the  individuals  and  families  thus  fed 
and  guided,  of  the  sheep  rescued  from  far  wanderings  and  healed 
of  grievous  wounds  and  injuries,  is  deeply  interesting.  But  the 
scope  of  this  paper,  and  the  brevity  necessary,  permit  allusion 
only  to  a  few  cases  the  public  fruits  of  which  were  most  remark- 
able. During  the  Whisky  Insurrection  there  came  here  with 
the  army  from  Carlisle  a  young  ph^'-sician,  a  man  of  a  very  high 
order  of  talent,  who  some  of  those  most  capable  of  judging  have 
said  was  possessed  of  gifts  which  would,  in  one  of  the  eastern 
cities,  have  placed  him  among  the  first  men  in  his  profession. 
But  his  mind  was  poisoned  by  the  prevalent  infidelity  which 
had  come  from  France  with  the  allies  who  had  done  so  much  to 
aid  our  nation  to  achieve  independence.  A  very  strong  attach- 
ment was  formed  between  him  and  Mr.  Speer,  who  guided  him 
skillfully  from  step  to  step,  removing  his  difficulties  and  leading 
him,  especially  by  the  study  of  Butler's  Analogy  of  Religion,  to 
see  that  revealed  religion  is  in  full  accord  with  the  constitution 
and  course  of  nature,  and  heartily  to  receive  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  as  his  personal  redeemer  and  eternal  hope.  Thus  James 
Postlethwaite  was  brought  from  darkness  to  light.  He  caught 
the  fervent  spirit  of  his  pastor  and  friend.  One  evening,  at  the 
close  of  the  long  prayer  before  the  sermon,  he  said  with  deep 
emotion  to  a  person  near  him,  "did  you  ever  hear  such  a 
pr^ayer  !"  For  thirteen  years  after  tliat  spiritual  guide  ascended 
on  high,  this  eminent  physician  was  spared  to  be  the  sti'ong 
advocate  and  support  of  Christian  truth  and  morality  in  this 
community  and  region. 

A  young  farmer  of  strong  and  inquiring  mind,  Alexander 
Culbertson,  was  led  through  a  similar  experience  to  Christ  the 
Savior.  When  his  beloved  pastor  was  to  be  buried  he  asked  as 
a  privilege  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  express  his  deep  grief  yb 
taking  a  place  among  the^family  at  the^funeral,  and  putting  on 
the  outward  badges  of  mourning  for  one  who  had  been  to  him 
dear  beyond  the  bonds  of  earth,  in  that  he  had  been  his  guide  to 
peace  in  Christ,  and  to  becoming  a  son  of  God  and  an  heir  of 
heaven.  Some  of  his  devoted  descendants  are  in  home  and  foreign 
fields  of  Christian  labor.  Paul  Morrow,  a  lawyer,  who  came 
from  Pittsburgh,  and  was  made  the  first  Prothonotary  of  the  new 
county  of  Armstrong,  returned  here  crushed  by  the  loss  of 
a  beloved  wife,  bringing  four  young  cliildren^with  him.  He  was 
led  to  find  consolation  and  the  interpretation  of  his  affliction  in 
Christ,    and   became    a   trusted   elder  in    this  church,  and  most 


41 

useful  in  good  here  and  afterwards  in  Pittsburgli.  An  editor, 
Jolin  M.  Snowden,  wlio  had  been  trained  in  Philadelphia,  under 
Matthew  Carey  the  disciple  of  Franklin,  became  here  a  humble 
and  loving-  follower  of  Chi"ist,  but  soon  found  in  Pittsburgh  a 
larger  field  of  usefulness  in  the  community  and  in  political 
affairs,  and  not  less  in  the  church,  to  advance  which,  as  an  elder 
imder  Dr.  Herron,  he  earnestly  devoted  his  labors  and  influence 
for  thirty  years.  Adam  Torrance,  a  young  cabinet-maker, 
was  deeply  impressed  with  divine  things,  turned  his  attention  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  students 
in  the  AUeghen)^  Seminary.  He  preached  for  thirty  years  at 
New  x^lexandria,  and  served  the  Lord  as  one  of  the  bravest  and 
most  faitliful  chaplains  of  the  army  during  the  late  Rebellion.  The 
sage  and  eminent  William  Findley — -than  whom  no  man  west  of 
the  AUeghenv  mountains  exerted,  in  his  day,  a  larger  political 
influence,  trusted  as  a  counsellor  by  Washington,  and  recognized 
in  the  closing  years  of  his  life  in  Washington  City  as  "the  father 
of  Congress,"  who  walked  with  his  pastor  in  affectionate  fellowship 
for  twenty  years  as  an  elder  of  the  Unity  church — was  blessed  in 
seeing  two  of  his  grand-sons,  John  Caruthers  and  James  Ewing 
Caruthers,  become  Presbyterian  ministers,  and  a  third,  Richard 
A.  Caruthers,  a  Methodist  minister.  But  we  cannot  tarry  now  to 
attempt  to  record  the  individual  fruits  of  blessing  to  the  church 
at  large  and  to  mankind  which  came  from  the  lives  of  many 
who  were  born  to  God  and  nurtured  for  usefulness  during  this 
long  pastorate  here  and  at  Unity. 

The  great  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  first  years  of 
the  century  produced,  as  one  of  its  most  remarkable  results  in 
America  and  Europe,  an  ardent  desire  to  glorify  God  by  sending 
forth  the  gospel  to  the  neglected  races  of  mankind. 

It  was  the  first  thought  of  hearts  powerfully  moved  from  on 
high  :  how  grateful  should  we  be,  who  dwell  in  these  wilder- 
nesses unknown  to  God's  chosen  people  of  old,  for  so  wondrous 
gifts  of  grace  I  In  this  spirit  Mr.  Speer  sometimes  appealed  to 
his  hearers.  In  a  sermon  from  the  text,  "Look  unto  me  and  be 
ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  for  I  am  God  and  there  is 
none  else,"  (Isa.  45:  22),  he  said,  the  Jews  believed  that  God  had 
placed  them  in  the  center  of  the  world.  "The  situation  of  their 
land  was  upon  the  border  of  Asia,  near  to  Africa,  and  not  remote 
from  Europe.  The  phrase,  'the  ends  of  the  earth,'  in  its  literal  and 
common  iise  must  have  signified  those  regions  which  were  most 
remote  from  Judea,  the  distant  parts  of  the  earth  inhabited  by 
Gentile  nations,  ignorant  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord  and  of  His 
grace  in  Jesus  Christ.  Here  is  a  manifest  reference  to  the 
extension  of  the  blessings  of  salvation  under  the  gospel  dispen- 
sation to  all  the  tribes  of  mankind.  There  is  a  peculiar  propriety 
in  conceiving  that  'the  ends  of  the  earth'  applies  to  us  who  inhabit 
a  continent  very  far  from  that  centre  where  the  glories  of  Jehovah 
were  manifested  to  the  Jewish  nation  ;  a  continent  which,  though 


42 

possibly  beyond  the  view  of  the  prophet  who  wrote  tlie  words, 
was  distinctly  known  to  the  Omniscient  Spirit  by  whom  he  was 
inspired.  And  not  only  this  extensive  continent  was  thus  known, 
but  He  who  sees  every  creature,  and  who  knew  that  His  call 
would  reach  us,  regarded  us  in  His  proclamation.  Hear  the 
address  made  to  us  from  the  days  of  Isaiah  !  'Look  unto  me 
and  be  saved  ;  ye  Americans  ;  ye  people  of  Pennsylvania  ;  ye 
who  dwell  where  lately  there  were  pagans,  heathen,  rude  and 
ferocious  ;  ye  whose  fathers  have  traversed  the  ocean  to  the  most 
distant  part  of  the  earth  ;  to  you  I  send  my  call.'  We  are  the 
descendants  of  Gentiles.  But  this  is  directed  to  every  one  of  us. 
The  call  was  uttered  more  than  two  thousand  years  ago.  It  has 
traveled  to  these  ends  of  the  earth  where,  until  a  century  ago,  all 
was  a  horrible  wilderness.  It  says  to  you — and  to  you — every 
one,  now,  'look  unto  me  and  be  saved.'  " 

The  people  of  this  region  were  then  poor,  very  poor.  Its 
incomparable  natural  wealth  of  soil  and  mines  was  as  yet  unde- 
veloped. Money  was  exceedingly  scarce.  But  even  then  zealous 
Christians  were  devising  and  putting  into  form  the  great  agencies 
of  missionary  effort  which  have  since  that  time  filled  the  world 
with  their  benefits.  The  bible,  and  tract,  and  missionary,  and 
education,  and  publication,  and  different  humane  organizations 
were  then  sown  in  the  earth,  in  human  eyes  the  least  of  all  seeds  ; 
but  how  great  branches  they  have  shot  out,  and  what  birds  of 
the  air  in  distant  heathen  lands  now  lodge  in  the  shadow  of  them! 
Local  societies  for  some  of  these  objects  were  formed  here. 
Paul  Morrow,  one  of  yoiu"  elders,  while  cashier  of  the  Westmore- 
land Bank,  took  charge  of  the  Bible  Societv's  publications,  and 
distributed  thence  what  was  more  precious  than  the  bank's  silver 
and  gold  to  all  that  were  in  need.  Missionaries  going  forth  to 
the  Indian  tribes  of  the  West  preached  as  opportunities  permitted 
to  the  people  here,  and  solicited  .contributions  of  money,  and 
books,  and  clothing,  and  farming  implements  and  medicine, 
which  were  shipped  on  flat  and  keel-boats  from  neighboring  river 
ports.  The  Board  of  Trust  of  the  synod,  in  1823,  sent  the  Rev. 
Robert  McMordie  Laird,  nephew  of  Mr.  Speer  by  marriage, 
upon  an  exploratorv  missionary  tour  among  the  Indian  tribes 
dwelling  about  the  remoter  lakes  of  the  North.  During  nine 
months  of  absence  he  collected  much  important  information  as 
to  the  character,  numbers  and  customs  of  those  tribes,  which 
determined  the  board  to  undertake  missions  among  them. 
He  held  a  series  of  meetings  among  the  United  States  soldiers 
at  the  Sault  St.  Mary,  which  were  blessed  to  the  conversion 
of  several  officers  and  men.  William  Findley  wrote  to  a 
kinsman  in  the  East,  in  the  year  1818:  "The  greatest  comfort 
I  now  enjoy  of  things  in  this  world  arises  from  the  extra- 
ordinary progress  of  the  translation  and  distribution  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  the  success  of  missionaries.  I  flatter  myself 
with  the  hope,  that  before  another  generation  lives  as  long  as 
I  have  done,  the  now  heathen  world  will  be  generally  Christian, 


43 

and  those  who  now  bear  that  name  will  be  reformed.      But  how 
light  will  penetrate  long  darkened  Africa  I   cannot   even  guess." 

It  would  be  very  interesting  to  trace  here,  if  our  time  did  not 
forbid  it,  tiie  influence  exerted  upon  the  population  and  character 
of  this  region  by  the  early  creation  of  religious  and  missionary 
literature.  Tlie  Greensburg  newspapers  were  unusually  able  in 
tiieir  intellectual  character,  and  cordial  and  sincere  in  aiding  to 
promote  the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  people.  Particu- 
larly was  this  so  with  the  Farmer  s  Rcf^ister,  which  was  the  second 
newspaper  established  in  this  country  west  of  the  Allegheny 
mountains;  Mr.  Snowden,  its  editor,  having  followed  hithervvard 
his  friend,  Mr.  John  Scull,  of  Philadelphia,  who  four  years  pre- 
viously, in  1794,  had  begun  to  publish  the  Gazette  at  Pittsburg. 
Mr.  Snowden's  good  influence  was  perpetuated  in  other  papers; 
as  in  those  edited  by  his  nephew,  John  M.  I^aird,  son  of  the  Rev. 
Francis  Laird.  Eminent  in  its  Chiistian  spirit  was  the  Greens- 
burg Gazette,  commenced  by  David  and  Matthew  Maclean,  mem- 
bers of  this  church,  but  after  1822  proprietors  and  editors  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Gazette  for  a  dozen  years,  and  long  elders  of  different 
churches  in  Allegheny  county.  But  there  was  great  need,  in  a 
region  and  at  a  time  wdaen  books  were  scarce  and  costly,  and 
when  God  was  working  wonders  of  righteousness  in  the  land 
and  the  world,  that  there  should  be  periodicals  sent  abroad  among 
the  churches  which  would  be  distinctively  religious  in  the  sub- 
jects treated  of  and  the  information  which  they  conveyed.  Thus 
there  was  issued  a  monthly,  the  Western  Missionary  Magazine,  at 
the  town  of  Washington,  for  two  years,  in  1802  to  1804.  In  1814 
there  had  been  commenced  among  the  intelligent  people  of  Mr. 
Speer's  former  charge  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  the  first  religious 
w^eekly  paper,  certainly  the  first  permanent  one,  in  this  country. 
And  we  may  remark  that  religious  newspaper^  were  not  until  a 
much  later  day  attempted  in  other  Christian  countries.  This 
paper,  first  named  the  Weekly  Recorder,  now  the  Presbyterian  Ban- 
ner, was  removed  by  its  editor,  the  Rev.  John  Andrews,  partly  by 
Mr.  Speer's  counsel  and  aid,  personally,  and  through  the  svnod  and 
other  courts,  to  the  wider  and  much  more  influential  field  which 
it  continues  very  efficiently  to  occupy  in   Pittsburgh. 

There  is  no  feature  of  the  history  of  this  region  and  of  its  in- 
fluence upon  the  country  more  remarkable  than  that  of  the 
efforts  made  here  in  behalf  of  religious  education  and  their  large 
and  important  results. 

In  these  efforts  the  Presbyterian  ministry  and  population  was 
the  chief  factor.  The  strength  which  they  have  imparted  to  the 
Presbyterian  character  and  power  in  the  United  States  has  often 
been  observed  by  religious  writers  in  other  parts  of  the  country. 
It  has  been  specially  manifest  in  times  of  general  conflict  and 
peril.  Thus,  in  the  great  struggle  to  preserve  purity  of  doctrine 
and    consistency    of    church    government     against    the    inroads 


44 

of  the  formless  and  ever  disintegrating  ideas  and  preten- 
tious aims  of  New  England,  which  resulted  in  the  temporary 
disruption  of  the  Presbyterian  body,  in  1837,  the  Rev.  Dr.  i\rchi- 
bald  Alexander,  of  Princeton,  N.  J.,  wrote:  "The  Pittsburgh  Synod 
is  the  purest  and  soundest  limb  of  the  Presbyterian  body.  When 
we  fall  to  pieces  in  this  quarter,  and  in  the  far  West,  that  synod 
will  be  like  a  marble  column  which  remains  undisturbed  in  the 
ruins  of  a  mighty  temple.  I  do  not  know  but  that  more  of  us 
will  be  obliged  to  seek  an  ultimate  refuge  in  that  region  from  the 
overflowing  of  new  divinity  and  new  measures."  It  is  worth 
while  to  trace  the  sources  of  this  strength  and  symmetry. 

It  is  generally  conceded  by  writers  upon  the  religious  history 
of  America  that  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  valley  of  the 
Ohio  was  planted  by  men  possessed  of  an  unusual  measure  of 
apostolic  piety,  wisdom,  enterprise,  and  concern  for  the  genera- 
tions to  come.  The  earliest  of  them  were  the  primitive  founders 
of  the  institutions  most  necessary  to  religion  and  society;  the 
pioneers,  as  it  were,  to  break  up  the  soil  of  the  wilderness,  plant 
the  grains  most  needful  to  life,  and  build  the  first  and  essential, 
but  possibly  not  abiding,  structures  for  various  uses.  They  were 
the  most  honored  agents  in  that  revival  which  fitly  closed  the 
eighteenth  century  and  inaugurated  the  wonderous  nineteenth. 
Their  names  have  been  commemorated  in  the  numerous  churches 
which,  during  a  score  of  years  past,'  have  been  celebrating  their 
grateful  centennials.  They  were  the  first  members  of  the  pres- 
byteries of  Redstone,  Ohio  and  Erie.  They  were  the  men  who 
in  erecting  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  in  1802,  flimg  forth  upon  the 
flag  of  this  first  frontier  stronghold  of  the  West  the  grand  and 
memorable  motto,  that  a  Presbyterian  synod  is  in  its  essence  a 
missionary  society.  In  the  great  need  then  existing  for  men  to 
preach  the  gospel  they  planted  many  schools  and  academies. 
They  encouraged  the  most  capable  young  men  to  consecrate 
themselves  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  They  begaii  to  train 
leaders  for  the  churches  about  them,  and  to  spread  the  blessings 
of  the  gospel  with  the  early  stream  of  westward  and  southward 
colonization;  and  they  turned  their  thoughts  and  efforts,  even 
thus  early,  to  the  heathen  Indians  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  and 
along  the  neighboring  lakes. 

The  second  generation  of  Christians  here  entered  upon  a 
materially  changed  condition  of  things.  The  termination  of  the 
great  outburst  of  the  revival  left  the  religious  element  of  the  peo- 
ple lifted  to  a  much  higher  level  and  prepared  for  great  advances 
in  good;  but  it  left  infidelity  and  vice  aroused  and  malignant  as 
they  had  not  been  before.  And  God  in  his  gracious  providence 
stirred  new  and  vast  ideas  and  ambitions,  agricultural,  commer- 
cial, political  and  religious,  in  the  hearts  of  the  American  people, 
by  his  bestowment  upon  them,  in  1803,  of  the  vast  territories, 
previously  owned  by  France,  in  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  val- 
leys; a  sudden  addition,  which  doubled  the  geographical  extent 
and  final  material  value  of  our  national  property. 


45 

Dimly  as  the  future  could  be  seen  at  tlie  time,  there  were  those 
in  the  ministry  who  recognized  tlie  immense  responsibilities  of 
the  position  of  the  church  in  this  region  and  at  tliat  juncture. 
They  saw,  in  behalf  of  Christianity,  the  military  necessities  of 
more  compact  and  complete  organization,  of  more  definite 
and  advanced  instruction,  and  of  the  inspiration  of  far  wider  and 
higher  aims.  It  was  manifest  to  them  that  the  time  had  come  to 
organize  and  rear  and  put  in  operation  religious  institutions 
which  would  be  suited  to  an  established  and  progressive  and  ex- 
panding social  condition,  wliich  would  look  to  be  permanent  to  all 
future  time,  and  which  were  calculated  to  spread  their  influences, 
not  alone  over  the  region  and  the  nation,  but  in  various  ways  to 
distant  countries  of  the  world. 

In  the  interval  between  Mr.  Speer's  visit  to  Westmoreland 
county,  in  October,  1802,  and  his  return  to  remain  here,  in  Decem- 
ber, he  made  a  visit  to  a  very  dear  and  congenial  friend,  the  Rev. 
Matthew  Brown,  who  had  been  preaching  for  a  year  in  Mifflin 
and  Lost  Creek  churches.  He  spent  a  sabbath  with  him  and 
they  had  much  talk  together  about  this  part  of  the  country.  Mr. 
Brown  and  Francis  Herron,  who  had  been  for  two  years  at  the 
Rocky  Spring  church,  near  Chambersburg,  were  brothers-in-law, 
married  to  daughters  of  Alexander  Blaine,  Esq.,  of  Carlisle.  Mr. 
Herron  was  also  an  endeared  friend;  three  years  earlier  he  had 
visited  Mr.  Speer  at  his  frontier  home  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio. 
Three  years  later,  God,  in  his  providence,  led  Mattliew  Brown 
to  Washington,  Pa.,  and  in  six  years  after  that,  Francis  Herron  to 
the  First  church  in  Pittsburgh.  To  these  three  friends,  born 
not  far  apart,  all  graduates  of  Dickinson  college,  licensed  by  the 
same  presbytery,  and  connected  by  many  social  ties,  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  this  region  is  most  largely  indebted  for  the  ad- 
vance made  in  their  day  in  religious  education. 

They  were  men  who  shared  in  some  features  of  character; 
severe  in  the  eyes  of  strangers  or  of  evil  doers,  but  of  extreme 
tenderness  of  heart  towards  those  worthy  of  their  love,  or  needing 
their  pity;  reserved  and  somewhat  formal  in  promiscuous  society, 
but  full  of  frolicsome  humor  and  mirth  amidst  the  intercourse  of 
kindred  spirits;  careful  in  dress,  according  to  the  spirit  of  gentle- 
men of  that  period,  and  deemed  proud  by  some  who  were  igno- 
rant of  or  indifferent  to  the  usages  of  society,  but  as  simple  as 
little  children  in  their  hearts,  and  humble  and  modest  concerning 
themselves  and  their  transactions,  as  men  might  be  who  saw  and 
felt  most  deeply  the  evils  and  weaknesses  of  human  nature  in 
themselves  and  others.  Their  preaching  was  at  times  solemn  and 
terrible,  so  that  the  dissolute  and  vicious,  or  the  determined  un- 
believers, of  whom  both  classes  were  sadly  numerous  in  these 
western  towns,  hated  and  avoided  it;  but  it  was  at  other  times  so 
loving  and  pitiful,  so  infused  with  the  spirit  of  the  bleeding  and 
merciful  Redeemer,  that  their  voices  became  husky  and  broken, 
and  the  eyes  of  the  audiences  wet  with  tears.  The  whole  struct- 
ure of  their  life  and   labors  and    influence   was  built    upon   deep 


46 

and  close  fellowship  with  God.  They  conferred  much  together, 
but  above  all,  they  prayed  much  together.  When  one  visited  the 
other,  as  they  loved  to  do,  it  was  a  time  of  jubilation  among  the 
young  folks;  their  children  long  remembered  the  enjoyment  and 
the  wit  and  the  intellectual  skirmishes  of  these  occasions,  but 
they  remembered  also  that  the  family  heard  from  the  study,  late 
into  the  night,  perhaps  almost  till  daybreak,  pacings  to  and  fro, 
ejaculations  of  gratification  or  of  anxiety,  and  at  intervals  the 
plaintive  sounds  of  voices  pleading  earnestly  in  prayer.  And 
good  people  living  near  the  homes  of  one  or  another  of  these 
men,  perchance  coming  in  from  the  country  before  the  dawn, 
now  and  then  saw^  the  glimmer  of  light  still  in  the  study  windows 
and  guessed  with  a  thrill  of  awe  the  secret  of  that  power  with  God, 
and  those  effects  in  the  hearts  of  the  young  and  the  old,  which 
were  manifest  under  their  ministry.  While  life  lasted  there  dried 
not  from  the  branches  of  either  of  them  the  dew  of  that  great 
descent  of  spiritual  power  during  which  their  own  labors  in  the 
ministry  were  begun. 

And  yet  these  three  men  were  very  unlike  in  other  respects. 
Herron  was  the  incarnation  of  princely  majesty.  The  writer  can 
remember  no  man,  in  this  or  in  foreign  countries,  in  any  position 
or  in  any  profession,  the  equal  of  Dr.  Francis  Herron,  as  he  ap- 
peared during  his  late  years,  in  his  commanding  stature  and  figure, 
his  regular  features,  and  his  dignified  yet  benevolent  address. 
If  he  offended,  it  was  by  fearless  and  plain  assertion  of  what  was 
right  and  true.  It  was  his  large-hearted,  practical,  diversified 
energy  and  efforts,  from  the  advantageous  position  that  he  occu- 
pied in  a  great  natural  and  commercial  centre,  which  made  him 
the  leading  individual  of  his  day  in  giving  to  Western  Pennsylva- 
nia the  high  place  which  it  has  held  in  the  Presbyterianism  of 
the  land.  Brown  was  restless,  nervous,  impetuous;  far-sighted 
and  devoted  in  his  aims;  practical  and  fervent  in  his  preaching; 
personal  and  affectionate  in  his  intercouse  with  students;  and  so 
successful  as  a  teacher  and  manager  that  from  under  the  influence 
of  no  other  president  of  an  American  college  did  there  go  forth 
in  his  time  so  large  and  continuous  a  flow  of  yoiuig  men  to  swell 
the  ranks  of  the  Presbyterian  ministry,  to  cultivate  the  waste 
places  of  our  own  land,  and  to  proclaim  the  gospel  of  Christ  to 
the  heathen.  The  distinguishing  influence  of  Speer  was  seen 
most  in  ecclesiastical  bodies.  So  broad  w^as  his  comprehension 
of  subjects,  so  wise  his  counsels,  and  so  evidently  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  church  and  religion  were  the  ends  he  advocated, 
that,  as  Dr.  Brown  testified  after  his  death,  he  was  "pre-eminent 
in  deliberative  assemblies."  The  large  and  able  presbytery  of 
Redstone  sent  him  to  the  Assembly,  which  then  met  always  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  to  aid  in  representing  the  interests  of  its 
extensive  territory,  thirteen  times  during  the  twenty- six  vears  of 
his  connection  with  it,  eleven  of  which  occasions  were  during 
the  important  period  from  1810  to  1827. 


47 

Two  great  subjects  then  pressed  with  special  urgency  upon 
the  Christian  people  of  the  West,  and,  indeed,  oi  the  natic^n  ;  in 
the  fust  place,  the  means  of  promoting  thorough  secular  and 
religious  education,  for  the  days  of  advanced  and  of  professional 
schools  of  any  kind  had  not  yet  come  ;  and,  in  the  second  place,"^X 
those  for  arresting  the  flood  of  infidelity  and  immorality,  which  J/ 
then  deluged  the  land. 

In  education  there  was  much  t(j  be  done  in  every  tcnvn  and 
new  settlement.  Academies,  the  anticipation  of  both  the  high 
and  normal  schools  and  of  the  colleges  of  to-day,  were  to  be 
planted  at  suitable  points.  The  Presbyterians  of  Greensburg 
essaved  one  of  a  superior  order.  One  of  its  first  principals  was 
Jonatlian  Findlev,  a  gentleman  of  intelligence,  polish  and  ex- 
perience, who  had  been  an  editor  in  Washington  City,  and  whose 
four  brothers  were  leading  public  men  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland.  This  academy  has  sent  forth  some  of  tlie  brightest 
men  of  the  nation  ;  three  of  the  younger  brothers  of  Walter 
Forward,  different  ones  of  the  Fosters,  Guthries,  Coidters, 
Williamses,  Johnstons,  Barclays,  and  others  during  the  seventy 
eight  years  since  its  incorporation  too  numerous  to  mention. 
The  influence  of  some  of  these  men  has  gone  to  the  farthest 
ctjrners  of  this  continent.  One  I  must  notice:  a  boy  of  thirteen 
came  to  the  academ)^  in  1824,  and  sat  under  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  in  this  congregation,  whose  grandfather,  Richard 
Geary,  had  been  an  English  naval  officer,  and  a  grandmother  of 
whom,  Martha  Rachford,  was  a  near  relative  of  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton, Washington's  financial  secretary.  His  father,  also  Richard 
Creary,  was  brought  up  from  boyhood  to  manhood  in  the  family  of 
James  Buchanan,  Esq.,  of  Lancaster,  along  with  his  sons,  one  of 
them  the  future  president.  This  boy,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Rachford 
Geary,  died  in  September,  1886,  in  Oregon  ;  where,  through  thirty- 
five  years  he  nobly  planted  the  seed  of  salvation  to  the  souls  of 
men,  of  religious  and  of  common  school  education,  and  of  scien- 
tific culture.  He  was  made  by  president  Buchanan,  without  his 
knowledge  or  desire  and  against  powerful  competition  for  the 
position,  Indian  Commissioner  for  not  only  Oregon,  but  also  Wash- 
ington Territory,  and  made  treaties  and  inaugurated  a  humane 
and  wise  policy  in  the  treatment  of  the  tribes  there.  There  was 
a  movement  to  send  him  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 
But  he  declined  the  honor,  and  was  faithful  unto  death  in  fol- 
lowing the  lowlv  footsteps  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Who  of 
us,  in  the  light  of  heaven,  would  be  willing  to  exchange  the 
welcome  "well  done"  to  him  from  the  King  of  Glorv  there,  fcjr 
all  the  distinguished  honors  and  compensations  which  our 
nation  and  our  commonwealth  bestowed  upon  his  brother  eight 
years  younger,  born  in  this  vicinity,  for  military  and  civil 
services  so  much  more  widely  and  lastingly  aijpreciated  among 
men,  and  which  we  must  recognize  have  borne  to  him  also,  as  a 
conscientious  Christian  man,  their  measure  of  blessing  from 
the  All-just  and  Gracious  One? 


48 

The  earnest  labors  of  Matthew  Brown  in  Washington,  after  the 
academy  was  made  a  colle<;;e,  and  tlie  comparative  success  of  the 
institution,  derived  no  little  inspiration  from  the  counsels,  pray- 
ers and  interest  of  Speer  as  a  trustee  ;  as  those  of  Herron  had 
subsequently  no  small  share  in  the  prosperity  which  attended 
Brown's  transfer  to  Jefferson  college,  and  the  numerous  revivals 
and  other -tokens  of  spiritual  blessing  with  which  that  college 
was  favored.  God  heard  the  prayers  and  blessed  the  efforts  of 
the  many  devout  men  concerned  in  these  two  institutions.  West- 
ern Pennsylvania  became  a  renowned  educational  centre,  to 
which  students  came  from  east  of  the  Alleghenies,  different  parts 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Georgia,  Mississippi,  Louis- 
iana, and  from  the  different  States  westward  in  the  valley  of  the 
Ohio.  Graduates  of  these  colleges  have  filled  the  highest  pro- 
fessional positions  in  those  regions  of  the  West  and  South. 

But  the  highest  and  final  aim  of  the  Christian  men  of  this  part 
of  the  country  was  to  prepare  a  ministry  of  the  gospel  in  num- 
bers somewhat  equal  to  the  calls,  and  in  furniture  equipped  to 
comprehend  and  engage  in  the  various  lines  of  religious  and 
benevolent  and  educational  enterprise,  in  the  new  fields  which  at 
that  time  were  opened  in  all  the  vast  regions  just  referred  to,  and 
amidst  the  infinitely  greater  destitutions  of  the  heathen  world. 

As  soon  as  an  advanced  and  complete  theological  institution 
was  projected  by  the  Presbvterian  church  in  1809,  and  located  at 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  in  1813,  Mr.  Speer  earnestlv  endeavored  to  in- 
terest the  churches  of  this  region  in  availing  themselves  of  its  pro- 
posed advantages.  He  was  appointed  bv  the  General  Assembly, 
in  1810,  to  aid  in  representing  its  (jbjects  and  collecting  funds  for 
its  support  in  this  section  of  country.  But  he  felt  that  another 
institution  of  the  same  nature  was  demanded  for  the  West,  and, 
more  than  that,  one  in  Western  Pennsvlvania  at  once  ;  and  that 
soon  others  would  be  required  in  other  centres  of  Presbyterian 
population.  He  was  appointed  bv  the  General  Assembly  of  1825 
a  member  of  a  general  cc»mmission  of  twenty-one  ministers  and 
nine  elders  to  consider  the  subject  and  location  of  a  seminary  for 
the  West,  including  the  Mississippi  valley.  When,  in  1827,  the 
institution  was  fixed  in  Allegheny,  he  was  made  by  the  Assembly 
one  of  its  board  of  directors.  That  board  at  its  first  meeting 
elected  as  its  president  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Herron  ;  first  vice-presi- 
dent. Rev.  William  Speer  ;  second  vice-president.  Rev.  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Ralston  ;  secretarv,  Rev.  Elisha  P.  Swift  ;  treasurer,  Michael 
Allen.  Prominent  among  the  members  of  it  were  Rev.  Dr. 
Matthew  Brown,  Rev.  Messrs.  Obadiali  Jennings,  Elisha  McCurdy, 
Thomas  E.  Hughes,  Robert  Johnstcni,  Charles  C.  Beatty,  and 
others  whose  names  were  the  guarantee  of  the  prayer,  and  high 
aims  and  zealous  efforts,  which  have  made  the  Western  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  a  leading  agency  in  giving  to  the  Presbyterianism 
of  Western  Pennsylvania  and  the  Ohio  valley  its  elevated  char- 
acter for  puritv,  strength,  and  devotion  to  the  advancement  of 
the  Redeemer's  kinsfdom  in  this  land  and  amidst  foreisjn  nations. 


49 

Frencli  ideas  of  liberty  triumphed  over  the  stern  principles  which 
had  been  the  rock  of  our  national  deliverances  and  success.  This 
Jacobinism  loathed  the  restraints  of  Christianity.  When  Signor 
Mazzei  remarked  to  Thomas  Jefferson,  in  Virginia,  the  ruinous 
condition  of  many  church  buildings  there,  their  Episcopal  func- 
tionaries having  gone  off  to  England  since  the  war,  the  contempt- 
uous reply  of  Jefferson  was  :  "They  are  good  enough  for  a  god 
that  was  born  in  a  stable." 

To  good  men  was  made  evident  that  which  our  nation's  his- 
tory has  continued  more  and  more  clearly  to  show:  that  the  only 
solid  foundation  of  popular  morality  is  the  maintenance  of  the 
Christian  sabbath,  its  ordinances,  its  instructions,  its  enforce- 
ments of  laws  and  compensations  which  are  infallible  and  eternal. 
In  the  years  i8oq  to  '25  Speer  took  the  lead  through  synod  and 
by  other  means  in  pressing  upon  the  churches,  upon  Congress 
and  upon  the  State  Legislature,  the  duties  of  not  transmitting 
the  mails,  not  opening  the  postoffices,  and  not  engaging  in  other 
public  acts  by  which  the  sacred  ends  of  the  sabbath  are  thwarted 
in  the  consciences  and  lives  of  men. 

The  organized  propagation  and  maintenance  of  the  infidelity 
of  the  period  was  affected  largely  through  the  institution  of  free- 
masonry. The  guilds  of  masons,  like  those  of  carpenters,  smiths, 
and  all  the  other  forms  of  mechanical  and  mercantile  employ- 
ment, had  been  in  most  countries  of  Europe  and  Asia  from  time 
immemorial  partly  agencies  of  charity,  partly  means  of  defense 
against  feudal  or  political  oppression.  A  change  came  when  Sir 
Cliristopher  Wren,  after  the  burning  of  London  in  1666,  became 
inflated  with  the  honors  heaped  upon  his  name  and  the  profes- 
sion of  the  architect  by  the  English  nation,  which  beheld  the 
splendid  cathedral  of  St.  Paul,  the  stately  churches  and  govern- 
ment and  private  edifices,  and  the  improved  streets,  which  con- 
ferred upon  the  city  a  magnificence,  healthfulness  and  facilities 
of  intercourse  that  it  had  never  before  possessed.  Wren  ran- 
sacked ancient  history  for  analogous  institutions,  traced  this  guild 
back  to  the  Crusades,  to  the  apostleship  of  John,  to  the  temple 
of  Solomon..  He  and  his  disciples  adopted  the  raiment  of  the 
Jewish  priesthood,  and  many  of  the  symbols  of  Old  and  New 
Testament  ordinances  and  prophecy.  Nay,  more,  they  organized 
a  new  religion,  the  "theosophy"  of  its  time,  which  they  claimed 
was  the  essence  of  the  profound  Catholic  truth  which  underlaid 
all  the  Christianity,  the  Mohammedanism,  the  Paganism,  of  an- 
cient systems:  the  unity  of  God,  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  pur- 
ity of  heart  and  life.  They  framed  a  ritual  of  worship  and  for 
the  burial  of  the  dead,  which  dispensed  with  Christ,  his  atone- 
ment, his  mediatorship,  his  kingdom  in  the  earth,  the  Holy  Spirit, 
the  sole  authority  of  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment in  religious  faith  and  duty.  They  sent  out  agents  and  pub- 
lications to  propagate  their  creed  and  worship  as  a  bond  of  fel- 
lowship among  all  nations  and  religions,  in  Ireland  and  Scotland, 
amidst  the  diverse  races  and  beliefs  of  Europe  ;   then  in  India,  in 


1r. 


5° 

Mohammedan  countries,  and  in  different  parts  of  the  New- 
World.  But  in  France,  where  these  efforts  met  with  the  greatest 
success,  the  philosophers  found  tlnat  there  were  principles  deeper 
and  more  consonant  still  with  human  nature  :  that  there  is  no 
God,  no  moral  government  of  the  universe,  and  that  death  is  an 
eternal  sleep.  This  was  the  seed  ;  the  crop,  alas,  was  seen  in  the 
orgies  of  crime  and  in  the  vast  and  horrible  massacres  of  the 
French  Revolution.  And  yet  this  French  atheism  and  license 
was  heralded  by  Liberal  clubs  in  American  cities  as  the  dawn  of 
the  final  glorious  age  of  philosophy  and  freedom  to  mankind. 

Such  were  the  great  and  portentious  perversions  of  a  guild  of 
laborers,  originally  in  most  of  its  features  reasonable  and  bene- 
ficial ;  the  character,  for  a  time,  of  a  wide-spread  organization 
which  threatened  to  be  as  despotic,  secret,  and  dangerous  to 
American  institutions  of  religion  and  civil  government  as  Ro- 
manism, and  yet  lacked  the  admixture  of  Christianity  which  exists 
in  Romanism.  The  good  sense,  and  the  general  and  genuine  re- 
ligious disposition  of  the  people  of  America  have  now,  it  is  com- 
monly supposed,  cast  out  of  free-masonry  many  of  these  abuses, 
and  aimed  to  restore  its  original  character  as  an  organization  for 
practical  beneficence  and  social  intercourse. 

So  grateful  and  so  just  was  the  political  sympathy  of  our  peo- 
ple towards  France  while  Lafayette  and  his  associates  lived,  so 
bitter  were  the  conflicts  of  parties  under  our  untried  institutions, 
so  anxious  and  fearful  many  of  the  wisest  and  best  men  in  church 
and  State  as  to  the  infusion  of  new  elements  of  strife,  that  the 
ministry  and  churches  or  every  name  shrank  from  antagonism  to 
this  powerful  and  specious  foe  of  Christianity.  Some  clergymen 
there  were  who  joined  hands  wdth  it.  There  had  been  no  warn- 
ing as  to  its  principles  and  influence  lifted  up  by  any  general 
representative  Christian  body  in  the  nation. 

There  was  much  prayer,  much  counsel,  among  the  godly  men 
of  Western  Pennsylvania  upon  this  subject.  There  was  much 
anxiety  that  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
above  all  other  bodies,  should  give  forth  a  clear  and  strong  utter- 
ance upon  it.  At  last,  when  the  w^ay  appeared  to  be  sufficiently 
prepared,  Mr.  Speer  brought  into  the  synod  of  Pittsburgh,  rneet- 
ing  in  the  First  church  of  that  city,  in  October,  1820,  through  a 
committee  of  three  ministers  and  two  elders,  appointed  for  the 
purpose,  a  full  and  particular  memorial,  in  which  it  is  averred 
that  the  evil  influences  of  free-masonry  upon  the  religion  and 
morals  of  the  people  are  such  as  to  demand  "the  attention  of  this 
synod  and  of  the  church  at  large."  It  was  shown  to  be  a  system 
which  "embraced  with  equal  affection  the  Pagan,  the  Deist,  the 
Turk  and  the  Christian  ;"  by  whose  principles  it  was  impossible 
that  "reformations"  could  be  effected  in  the  life.  Christians  be 
"improved  in  piety,"  communion  be  maintained  "with  the  people 
of  God,  and  with  the  Father,  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ."  It  was 
opposed  to  the  doctrines  and  aims  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  ;  it  ex- 
cluded from  its  organizations  the  pure  and  hallowed  associations 


51 

and  influences  of  woman  ;  it  poisoned  the  morals  of  society  ;  it 
undermined  the  foundations  of  our  principles  of  government, 
and  of  our  existence  and  prosperity  as  a  nation  ;  it  imperiled 
"especially  our  youth  ;"  it  hazarded  "the  eternal  welfare"  of  the 
souls  of  men.  The  churches,  ministry  and  Christian  people,  are 
then  admonished  "in  the  present  crisis  of  the  kingdom  of  God 
with  the  kingdom  of  darkness,  to  show  themselves  on  the  Lord's 
side,  and  to  perform  zealousl}^  the  duties"  which  are  manifest  in 
relation  to  the  protection  of  the  church,  society  and  the  souls  of 
men  from  these  evils. 

All  felt  that  there  was  unusual  need  for  wisdom  and  guidance 
from  on  high.  The  synod,  as  its  minutes  significantly  say,  gave 
"serious  consideration  and  discussion"  to  the  subject,  and  "re- 
ferred it  to  the  consideration  of  the  next  General  Assembly." 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  synod  to  bring  this  matter  be- 
fore it,  was  William  Speer,  Matthew  Brown  and  Thomas  E. 
Hughes,  ministers,  and  Thomas  Davis  and  Thomas  Hazleton, 
elders.  Thomas  E.  Hughes  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  de- 
voted missionary  spirits  of  the  ministry.  Thomas  Davis  was  an 
elder  of  the  Second  church.  Rev.  Elisha  P.  Swift's,  in  Pittsburgh, 
who  soon  after  this  was  advanced  by  his  brethren,  on  account  of 
his  earnest  piety  and  usefulness,  in  middle-life  and  from  a  me- 
chanical employment,  to  the  office  of  the  ministry.  The  presby- 
tery of  Redstone,  in  April,  1821,  sent  William  Speer,  Fran- 
cis Herron,  and  Robert  Johnston,  ministers,  and  John  M.  Snow- 
den,  elder,  as  representatives  to  the  Assembly. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1821,  presided  over  by  a  Southern 
moderator,  and,  it  is  said,  moved  by  the  vehement  resistance  of 
men  from  the  slave  States,  dismissed  the  subject  referred  to 
them,  by  indefinite  postponement.  In  1846  the  presbytery  of 
Indiana,  famous  for  its  anti-slavery  and  anti-masonic  spirit,  again 
brought  up  the  subject  before  the  Assembly.  The  response 
was,  that  it  was  one  upon  which  it  was  "inexpedient  to  legislate." 

But  the  synod  of  Pittsburgh  neither  postponed,  nor  refused  to 
legislate  upon,  the  subject  of  masonry.  When  it  met  in  the  en- 
suing October,  in  the  same  historic  First  chvirch,  it  said  in  the 
narrative  on  the  state  of  religion,  prepared  by  Dr.  Brown,  that 
"the  general  aspect  of  its  churches  is  dark,"  and  "calls  for  deep 
humiliation  and  sorrow,"  and  that  one  of  the  leading  causes  of 
this  is  the  "organized  infidelity  which  has  taken  shelter  under 
the  name  of  rational  Christianity,  still  retaining  the  same  deadly 
hostility  to  the  divinity  of  Christ,  to  the  atonement  made  by  his 
death,  and  to  all  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of  Christianity."  It 
appointed  a  committee,  Dr.  Francis  Herron,  Rev.  Elisha  P. 
Swift,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Stockton,  to  print  in  a  pamphlet  the  nar- 
rative, with  some  other  extracts  from  the  minutes,  and  that  this 
pamphlet  be  "distributed  throughout  the  churches"  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Patterson.  It  set  apart  Tuesday, 
the  6th  day  pf  the  next  month,  to  be  one  of  special  secret  prayer 


52 

for  a  revival  of  religion,  by  the  ministers  separately,  and  Wed- 
nesday of  the  following  week  to  be  one  of  "humiliation,  fasting 
and  prayer,"  towards  the  same  end,  by  all  the  congregations. 

It  was  one  of  the  remarkable  features  of  this  religious  awaken- 
ing to  the  dangers  of  the  organized  infidelity  of  the  period,  that 
notwithstanding  that  system  had  succeeded  in  interweaving  its 
roots  so  wndely  through  the  political  questions  which  then  so  in- 
tensely excited  the  minds  of  men,  yet  the  conflict  with  it  caused 
no  disruptions  in  the  churches  of  tlie  synod.  In  the  congrega- 
tions of  Mr.  Speer  were  some  of  the  most  eminent  political 
leaders  of  the  day  and  many  bitter  partizans  of  opposite  views. 
And  yet  so  clearly  did  he  distinguish  the  vital  and  momentous  re- 
ligious matters  at  issue  from  thoseof  a  political  nature  in  which  men 
may  safely  differ,  it  was  so  manifest  that  he  was  governed  by  high 
and  disinterested  motives,  and  so  fully  did  he  possess  the  love  of 
his  people  and  the  confidence  of  the  community,  that  there  were 
no  divisions  created  among  the  people  and  he  suffered  no  es- 
trangement of  valuable  personal  friendsliip.  One  who  was  pres- 
ent, eight  years  after,  at  his  funeral,  wrote  that  it  was  most  affect- 
ing to  see  "the  long  procession  of  friends  who  followed  him  in 
tears  to  the  grave  ;  to  behold  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  grey- 
headed and  the  young,  bending  in  sorrow  over  their  pastor's 
grave,  and  looking  as  though  their  hope  was  gone." 

And  yet  we  must  attach  but  little  of  honor  and  praise  of  good 
wrought  on  earth  to  the  human  instruments.  We  must  look 
elsewhere  for  its  sources.  The  world  takes  no  account  of  ap- 
pointments of  churches  for  "humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer." 
Still  less  does  it  give  any  C(jnsideration  to  the  secret  wrestlings  of 
their  leaders  with  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant.  But  it  is  these 
which  ai'e  God's  means  of  starting  mighty  movements  of  nations 
and  transactions  of  history.  It  is  not  mere  conceit,  nor  is  it 
superstition,  which  leads  proud  Britain  to  desire  that  the 
sovereigns  of  her  stupendous  conglomerate  empire  shall  be  seat- 
ed in  the  act  of  their  coronation  vipon  that  mysterious  stone,  in 
the  chair  at  Westminster,  which  many  centuries  have  transmit- 
ted, with  the  legend  and  hope  that  it  is  the  pillow  upon  which 
dreaming  Jacob  saw  set  up  the  ladder  which  reached  from  earth 
to  heaven,  and  upon  which  was  poured  the  oil  which  sealed  a 
covenant  of  blessing  through  him  to  "all  the  families  of  the 
earth." 

This  deep  religious  movement  in  Western  Pennsylvania  origi- 
nated and  impelled  that  one  in  politics  which  spread  through 
this  and  other  parts  of  the  State,  followed  the  lake  shore  into  the 
Puritan  regions  of  northern  Ohio  and  western  New  York,  and 
crossed  the  mountains  of  Berkshire,  moist  with  the  dews  which 
followed  the  prayers  of  Jonathan  Edwards,  into  Massachusetts. 
The  Adamses,  the  Sewards,  the  Weeds,  the  Giddingses,  of  the 
next  generation,  and  the  noble  and  the  wise  and  the  mighty  of 
our  third  generation,  have  little  discerned  that  the  sudden  explo- 


53 

sion  which  shook  the  nation  when  William  Morgan  was  murder- 
ed, in  October,  1820,  at  Fort  Niagara,  for  revealing  the  secrets 
of  masonry,  arose  from  a  train  of  influences  which  can  be  traced 
to  these  Pennsylvania  hills,  and  to  a  time  from  six  to  ten  years 
earlier.  The  eye  which  does  not  "see  Him  who  is  invisible"  can- 
not comprehend  that  the  power  which  within  the  last  half  cen- 
tury has  wrought  so  vast  renovations  in  the  moral  life  of  the 
nation,  which,  when  hope  was  almost  gone,  suddenly  and  forever 
abolished  hideous  and  deadly  evils  that  were  eating  out  its  vitals, 
and  which  has  enriched  this  people  with  so  many  pledges  that  in 
it  truly  "all  the  families  of  the  earth  shall  be  blessed,"  is  all  from 
the  hand  of  the  covenant-keeping  Almighty  Redeemer,  who 
heard  the  pleadings,  in  many  lonely  Peniels  here,  of  pastors  and 
people  who  wrestled  with  him  until  the  glimmer  of  the  coming 
light  began  to  break  upon  them,  and  he  promised  surely  to  bless 
them. 

And  yet  how  hard  it  is  for  us  to  learn  what  these  things  mean  ! 
O,  fools  and  slow  of  heart  that  we  are  to  believe  all  that  the 
prophets  have  spoken,  and  all  that  the  Lord  God  Almighty  has 
been  doing  to  fulfil  them  in  the  wondrous  events  of  this  century! 
And  how  are  we  called  to  be,  with  a  burning  zeal  and  to  a  meas- 
ure of  which  we  have  not  before  thought,  the  witnesses  of  these 
things  !  With  what  unparalleled  bounty  of  the  gifts  of  nature  to 
this  region,  beyond  all  that  our  fathers  possessed  or  dreamed  of, 
has  God  put  means  in  oiu*  hands  ;  and  shown  that  he  lays  upon 
us  extraordinary  responsibilities  to  his  kingdom  and  to  mankind. 
From  us  to  whom  so  much  has  been  given  how  much  will  be 
required. 

Of  Mr.  Speer's  personal  history  I  am  not  now  called  to  speak. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  biography  of  him  which  Dr.  Matthew 
Brown  contemplated  and  began,  was  not,  so  far  as  known,  com- 
pleted. His  life  possessed  some  features  and  was  marked  by 
some  events  worthy  of  detail.  And  yet  he  was  a  son  whom  the 
Father  chastened  with  some  aflflictions  of  rare  painfulness.  An 
invalid  during  all  the  later  years  of  his  life,  he  lived  in  near  fel- 
lowship with  him  who  in  infinite  grace  and  wisdom  "purgeth  the 
branch  that  beareth  fruit  that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit."  A 
close  student,  faithful  as  a  pastor,  loving  tenderly  his  family  cir- 
cle and  friends,  he  avoided  the  paths  of  worldly  reputation.  A 
beloved  nephew,  George  W.  Buchanan,  whose  brilliant  promise 
in  the  legal  profession  was  cut  off  by  an  early  death,  was  with  his 
uncle  in  his  last  illness,  and  afterwards  wrote  of  him  :  "the  great 
object  of  his  being  seemed  to  consist  in  extending  the  influence 
of  heavenly  light."  "His  long  life  of  exemplary  piety  closed  with 
the  brightest  assurance  of  a  share  in  the  merits  of  a  Saviour's 
blood."  "He  died  with  a  Christian's  hope,  and  while  he  uttered 
the  hallelujahs  of  victory,"  his  rejoicing  spirit  was  borne  away 
"to  the  bosom  of  his  Father  and  liis  God."  And  thus  it  was.  He 
appeared  for  the  last  time  in  presbytery,  meeting  here,  on  Wed- 
nesday, April  8th,  extremely  feeble  in  health,  and   returned  to  it 


54 

his  charge  for  twenty-six  years  of  this  church.  Before  the  month 
closed,  on  its  last  Sabbath  evening,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  daugh- 
ter, wife  of  the  Rev.  A.  O.  Patterson,  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  he  entered 
into  the  joy  of  the  Lord.  The  tear-dimmed  eyes  around  him 
saw  his  face  suddenly  lighted  with  supernatural  wonder  and  rap- 
ture ;  the  last  utterances  of  his  cold  and  stiffening  lips  were  halle- 
lujahs as  there  seemed  to  burst  upon  him  the  glories  which  were 
kept  hidden  from  those  whose  appointment  it  was  yet  longer  to 
serve  here  and  wait. 


'^'■^'-  Wm.  I).  MOOV^^- 


I^AVID   KE^ 


55 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS: 
Rev.  James  I.   Brownson,   D.   D.,   1841-49. 


It  is  a  pleasure  beyond  expression  to  stand  with  the  beloved  pastor, 
elders,  and  members  of  this  venerable  church,  upon  the  height  of 
prosperity  to  which  a  century  of  Divine  goodness  has  brought  them. 
From  the  study  of  its  record,  we  may  all  look  up,  in  the  fellowship  of 
praise,  to  Him  who,  dwelling  between  the  cherubim,  has  ever  shed 
His  light  along  the  pathway  of  his  chosen,  through  the  whole  suc- 
cession of  their  changes  of  sadness  and  joy.  Nor  is  faith's  privilege 
less,  so  to  interpret  and  apply  the  lessons  of  history  that  its  prophecy 
shall  be  as  the  stars  of  morning  which  herald  the  sunlight  of  the 
advancing  day.  A  century  is  secure,  and  who  shall  doubt  the  outcome 
of  the  years  beyond  that  veil  which  God  has  hung  to  limit  mortal 
vision  of  the  future.  Even  these  mutual  congratulations  will  prove 
praiseworthy,  if  the  rehearsal  shall  only  bring  its  first  tribute  to  the 
altar  whereon  the  church  itself  was  bought  with  blood. 

The  signal  advancement  of  this  beloved  congregation,  in  the  latter 
period  of  the  century  we  celebrate — notably  the  part  of  it  covered  by 
the  present  vigorous,  attractive,  and  successful  pastorate — is  sure  of 
its  full  share  in  the  sympathies  of  this  generation.  In  the  combined 
elements  of  stability  and  progress  the  church  stands  now  among  the 
foremost  of  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  and  of  Western  Pennsylva- 
nia. And  no  offerings  of  gladness  shall  come  to  these  altars  of 
thanksgiving  from  more  joyful  hearts  than  those  in  which  still  linger 
memories  of  the  toil  and  trial,  not  to  say  strife,  of  the  wilderness, 
when  the  Caanan  of  permanent  possession  was  a  land  of  promise. 
But  come  with  us,  we  ask  you,  back  over  the  line  of  the  past,  to  share 
the  story  of  services  less  immediately  fruitful  indeed,  but  the  ultimate 
blessings  of  which  the  surety  of  the  covenant  has  brought  down  to 
you  as  heirs ;  and  so  let  us  give  praise  together. 

The  Presbyterian  churches  of  Greensburg  and  Unity  became 
vacant  in  1838  by  the  lamented  death  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Henry,  who 
had  been  their  pastor,  greatly  beloved,  for  more  than  eight  years. 
Upon  the  formation  of  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville  in  1830,  the 
church  of  Greensburg,  being  situated  on  the  Pittsburg  turnpike,  which 
was  the  boundary  line,  had  the  liberty  to  choose  its  own  connexion, 
and  adhered  to  Redstone,  the  mother  Presbytery,  holding  Unity  with 


56 

it  by  the  ties  of  the  joint  pastorate  This  choice  is  said  to  have  been 
made  partly  in  deference  to  the  wish  of  Mr.  Henry  to  be  associated 
in  Presbyterial  relations  with  his  relative  by  marriage,  the  Rev. 
Andrew  O.  Patterson,  D.  D.,  who  was  then,  and  continued  until  the 
autumn  of  1834,  the  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Sewickly.  The  death  of  Mr.  Henry  released  the  church 
of  Unity,  which  was  soon  set  over  to  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  to 
which  it  geographically  belonged,  Greensburg,  however,  remained 
under  the  orginal  jurisdiction  for  a  score  of  years  longer,  or  until 
1858,  when,  under  the  pastorate  of  the  revered  Dr.  Joseph  Smith, 
and  for  the  convenience  of  travel  upon  the  lines  of  railroad  meanwhile 
constructed,  the  church  was  embraced,  by  the  authority  of  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburg,  in  the  Blairsville  Presbytery. 

The  vacancy  by  death,  in  1838,  already  referred  to,  was  simulta- 
neous with  the  consummation   of  that    fearful    contest   of  years  upon 
questions    of  doctrine   and    ecclesiastical  order,   whereby  the  Presby- 
terian church  was  ruptured,  and  so  continued   in   two   branches    under 
separate    General   Assemblies,    until   the  happy  reunion  in  1S69,  after 
the  lapse  of  a  generation.      The  effort  to  settle  a  pastor  at  Greensburg 
unfortunately  involved  the  church  in  local  complications    which   inci- 
dentally divided  it  along  the  line  of  that  great  strife.     A  young    min- 
ister of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church,    having   been   pastor  of  a 
congregition   of  that   body  in   Pittsburg,  was,  by  some  recommenda- 
tion, introduced  as  a  candidate  for  the  pulpit,  and  soon   captured  the 
people,    especially   the    young,    with    his   sparkling  eloquence.     But 
before  the  time  for  a  formal  call  had  arrived  adverse  reports  respect- 
ing his  personal  conduct  reached  the  ears  of  many,  and  led  them  to 
withdraw     from    him     their    support.      In    these    circumstances,    the 
preacher,  with  the  concurrence  of  his  friends,  went  to  the  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  for  the  purpose   of  being  received  into  its 
membership,  but    not   finding  encouragement  as  to  the  success  of  his 
application,  it  was  withheld.      A  similar  application  was    made  to  the 
Third  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia    (New    School),    but    was    rejected. 
Thus  his  prospects,  if  not  his  aspirations,  came  to  an  end.      But,  alas! 
in  the  process  towards  this  result,  the   people  had   been  separated    in 
bitterness,  and  the  indiscreet  zeal  of  partisanship  had  cast  a  cloud  over 
the   eyes   of  reason    and    charity,  so  that  crimination  was  allowed  to 
break  the  ties  of  brotherly  fellowship.      Happily,   however.,   that   con- 
flict   has    long    since   passed   away  into   peace  and  good  will,  and  the 
story  of  the  strife  would  better  be  expunged  from  the  record,  save  only 
for  a  double  purpose.     One  benefit  is  an   illustration   of  the  fact  that 
not  along  any  line  of  doctrinal  or  ecclesiastical  difference,  but  only  in 
the  face  to  face  contests  of  personal    feeling,    that    warfare    was   con- 
ducted    here.      And,    on     the    other    hand,    it    points    the    lesson    of 
warning  against  the  beginnings  of  strife  in   the   house   of  God    which 
are  so  apt,  under  the  name  of  conscience,   to  become   like  the  letting 
out  of  waters  which  rise  to  a  resistless  fljod  ;  or  like  the  kindling  of  a 
little  spark  which  only  needs  fuel  aid  air  to  grow   into    a    destructive 
fire.      May  we  not  trust   that  one  such  experience  will  be  enough   for 
this  church  for  all  coming  time  ? 


57 

The  unhappy  rending  of  the  church  had  been  accomplished  a 
year  or  more  before  your  present  speaker  arrived  upon  the  scene,  in 
the  early  days  of  March,  184T,  He  came  by  invitation,  when  only  a 
fvw  months  out  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  with- 
out any  pastoral  experience,  and  carrying  with  him  from  his  mother's 
liouse,  in  Mercersburgh,  Pa  ,  on  horseback,  in  a  pair  of  saddle-bags, 
after  the  manner  of  those  simpler  times,  his  outfit  of  clothing  together 
with  his  entire  accumulation  of  nine  sermons.  He  found  a  most  genial 
resting  place  then,  and  for  some  weeks  afterwards,  in  the  cultured 
and  hospitable  home  of  Dr.  James  Postlethwaite,  the  acknowledged 
head  of  his  profession,  a  leading  citizen,  and  an  accomplished  Christ- 
ian gentleman.  Having  preached  the  previous  Sabbath  to  the  church 
of  Mount  Pleasant  (O.  S.),  which  was  the  other  branch  of  the  con- 
templated charge  -where,  also,  a  like  violent  division  had  occurred — 
he  was  measurably  prepared  for  the  cloud  of  prejudice  which  he  found 
overhanging  the  cans*"  of  Old  Schoolism  here. 

The  first  sermons  of  the  prospective  pastor  were  preached,  upon 
a  stormy  day,  in  the  old  brick  church,  which  stood  for  the  testimony 
of  the  gospel  for  about  half  a  century,  on  a  site  now  embraced  in  your 
beautiful  St.  Clair  Cemetery.  The  small  audience  then  assembled  had 
come  together  through  formidable  snow  drifts.  The  blustering  winds 
without  found  response  from  columns  of  smoke  ascending  within  from 
venerable  stoves.  The  pulpit,  more  lofty  than  elegant,  was  in  antique 
harmony  with  dingy  walls  and  perpendicular  high-backed  pews. 
Carpets  and  cushions,  except  for  the  sacred  desk,  were  luxuries  only 
for  a  future  less  stalwart  age.  But  later  associations  made  that  old 
church  "to  memory  dear."  We  who  worshipped  there  still  "take 
pleasure  in  her  stones,  and  favor  the  dust  thereof."  The  outlook 
then  was  far  from  hopeful,  though  indeed  there  was  a  compe  nsation  in 
the  cordial  greeting  and  deep  feeling  of  the  earnest  few  who  were 
ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  for  what  they  and  I  believed  to  be  the 
cause  of  God.  But  a  month  of  service  and  social  intercourse,  divided 
between  the  two  churches,  prepares  the  young  preacher's  way  to 
accept  unanimous  invitations  to  supply  them  for  the  period  of  six 
months,  rather  than  an  immediate  pastoral  call,  which  they  declared 
themselves  ready  to  offer.  In  making  this  decision  to  accept,  it  be- 
came necessary  to  decline  a  simultaneous  invitation  of  the  same  sort 
from  a  church  in  a  very  attractive  town  in  the  central  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania, now  a  leading  church  in  our  denomination.  But  the  Lord 
seemed  to  point  out  the  way,  and  his  blessings  sanctioned  the  course 
taken. 

The  mutual  relations  of  the  summer  of  1841  became  more  and 
more  pleasant  and  binding,  insomuch  that,  at  the  October  sessions  of 
the  Presbytery,  each  of  the  churches  presented  a  unanimous  call  for 
my  settlement  as  pastor.  A  special  meeting  of  that  body  was  held  at 
the  church  of  Mount  Pleasant,  on  the  25th  day  of  November  follow- 
ing, and  on  the  26th  I  was  solemnly  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the 
ministry  and  installed  as  pastor  of  that  church.  Not  to  speak  of  my 
other    trial    exercise^    my    examination    in   theology   was   peculiarly 


58 

minute  and  thorough,  intended  by  the  Presbyters,  as  I  was  afterwards 
told,  not  so  much  to  satisfy  themselves  of  my  soundness  in  the  faith, 
as  to  give  a  lesson  of  orthodoxy  to  some  of  the  New  School  people  who 
were  present  as  listeners.  On  the  following  day,  I  was  in  like  manner 
installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Greensburg,  when  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  D.  D.,  the  charge  to  the  pastor 
was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  McCandless,  and  that  to  the 
people  by  the  Rev.  Noah  H.  Gillett.  Of  the  noble  leaders  of  Old 
Redstone,  as  then  constituted,  this  same  Dr.  Wilson  alone  survives, 
still  lingering  on  life's  border,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  at  his  home 
in  Fairfield,  Iowa.  He  is  still  in  the  blessed  union  of  faith  with  the 
beloved  companion  of  his  long  life  and  service,  whilst  they  go  onward 
together  to  the  "house  not  made  with  hands."  The  pastoral  relation 
thus  formed  continued  with  mutual  confidence  and  good  will,  and 
not  without  tokens  of  Divine  favor,  until  January  i6th,  1849,  when, 
obedient  to  the  voice  of  the  Master,  as  it  seemed,  my  resignation  was 
accepted  by  the  Presbytery  that  1  might  enter  upon  a  like  service  of 
wider  opportunities  of  usefulness,  where,  until  this  day,  I  have  been 
mercifully  kept  in  health  and  active  labor,  as  well  as  in  a  contented 
mind.  The  pastoral  work  of  these  eight  years  at  Greensburg  was  quiet 
and  persevering  rather  than  demonstrative.  Much  of  it  was  required 
in  behalf  of  "the  things  that  make  for  peace."  A  membership  of 
twenty-five  formed  the  small  nucleus  of  future  additions.  One  of  the 
two  only  ruling  elders,  Robert  Graham  (commonly  called  "Grimes") 
was  in  the  decline  of  old  age  ;  the  other,  William  Ramsey,  gave  me 
his  cheerful  support.  Mr.  John  Nichols,  an  elder  before  the  rupture, 
having  gone  out  with  the  New  School  party,  resumed  his  place  in  the 
summer  of  1841,  but  died  in  blessed  hope  the  following  May,  in  the 
seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age.  In  the  early  summer  of  1842  Mr. 
Isaac  Miller  was  elected  and  ordained  to  the  ruling  office,  and  he 
faithfully  served  the  church  in  it  until  October  24th,  1854,  when  death 
released  him  in  his  fiftieth  year.  A  very  valuable  addition  to  the 
session  was  also  made  in  June,  1843,  in  the  person  of  Smith  Agnew, 
Esq.,  who  had  exercised  the  .same  office  previously  in  several  churches, 
but  last  in  the  church  of  New  Alexandria,  from  which  he  came  to  us 
by  certificate  of  dismission.  These  were  my  official  helpers  until 
June  2ist,  1845,  when  Messrs.  John  Armstrong,  Sr.,  and  Randall  Mc- 
Laughlin were,  after  unanimous  election  by  the  people,  installed  as 
members  of  the  session.  They  had  been  ruling  elders  in  the  New 
School  branch  from  its  organization,  but  now,  followed  by  a  number 
of  private  members,  they  had  changed  their  church  connexion.  This 
movement  was  wholly  their  own,  without  inducement  or  solicitation 
from  us,  and  it  was  made  for  the  purpose  and  in  the  hope  of  an  or- 
ganic union  of  the  two  bodies  as  such,  for  which  it  was  thought  both 
sides  were  prepared.  But  in  the  process  it  was  found  that  some  mem- 
bers of  the  other  branch  and  one  elder  were  not  quite  prepared  for 
such  a  consummation,  and,  therefore,  such  as  were  ready  were  left  to 
act  severally  for  themselves.  The  remnant  for  the  most  part  came 
gradually  to  attend  our  services,  and  the  last  of  them  returned  to  greet 
my  succsssor  at  the  opening  of  his  work. 


59 

It  is  a  gratification,  even  at  this  late  date,  to  record  the  fact  that 
through  this  whole  pastorate,  the  session  acted  in  the  utmost  harmony 
with  the  pastor,  whilst,  also,  the  church  was  without  friction  or  con- 
troversy. From  a  very  small  beginning,  in  very  discouraging  circum- 
stances, the  membership,  without  special  revival,  steadily  increased, 
above  losses  by  death  and  removal,  to  nearly  three  times  its  number  at 
the  beginning.  In  many  other  directions,  also,  there  was  continuous, 
if  not  rapid  progress.  This  appeared  more  particularly  in  the  Sab- 
bath school  and  the  prayer  meetings,  which  were  thoroughly  organ- 
ized and  vigorously  supported.  The  latter  were  held  in  private  houses. 
In  happy  confirmation  of  this  progress  stands  the  significant  history, 
that  at  the  call  of  my  successor,  and  addition  of  $ioo  was  made  to 
the  accustomed  salary,  and  that,  two  years  later,  each  of  the  churches 
of  Greensburg  and  Mount  Pleasant  was  stirred  to  the  support  of  a 
pastor  for  itself  alone.  In  this  an  actual  need  was  met  in  each 
church. 

A  not  less  significant  token  to  the  same  effect,  was  the  erection, 
in  1848,  of  a  new  and  comfortable  house  of  worship,  on  the  ground 
where  now  stands  this  beautiful  structure,  a  noble  monument  of  later 
and  still  larger  progress.  Perhaps,  all  things  considered,  it  would  be 
safe  to  challenge  comparison  with  any  other  movement  in  the  history 
of  this  congregation,  in  regard  to  the  influence  which  that  erection  of 
1848  had  upon  its  welfare.  It  took  the  church  out  of  an  uncomfort- 
able building,  held  under  lease,  and  occupied  by  compromise  with 
other  interests,  into  a  home  all  its  own.  The  situation  was  easy  of  ac- 
cess in  all  sorts  of  weather,  and  at  night  as  well  as  by  day.  It  was  up 
to  the  need  and  style  of  the  times,  in  size,  form,  and  adaptation.  It 
gave  stability  to  the  whole  enterprise,  and  opened  the  way  of  consoli- 
dation and  enlargement  to  the  energy  of  the  succession  of  able 
pastors.  It  stood  for  the  period  of  thirty-four  years — a  full  genera- 
tion— a  holy  habitation  of  God's  people,  and  a  birthplace  of  souls. 
It  is  gone  from  sight,  but  tender  memories  hold  fast  its  image. 

A  few  yet  live  who  can  recall  the  struggles  whereby  that  building 
was  obtained.  The  voice  of  the  pulpit  was  often  heard  in  behalf  of 
the  undertaking  before  the  spirit  of  the  people  rose  to  that  level. 
Repeated  efforts  to  negotiate  for  an  amicable  disposition  of  the  old 
building,  failed  of  success.  After  the  movement  became  hopeful, 
peril  came  in  the  contest  of  the  upper  and  lower  ends  of  the  town  for 
the  location.  The  pastor's  preference  was  for  an  intermediate  site, 
the  same  where  the  Methodist  brethren  now  worship,  but  his  inquiry 
of  the  owner  was  made  just  two  days  after  its  sale  for  the  purpose  of 
a  residence.  Happily,  however,  patience  brought  acquiescence  in  the 
wish  of  the  majority.  The  lot  was  purchased  and  presented  by  five 
excellent  ladies,  viz  ;  Miss  Margaret  Coulter  Mrs.  Rebecca  Coulter, 
Miss  Ann  Brady,  Mrs.  Mary  Foster,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Miller.  In  these 
times  of  wealth  and  style  it  may  be  amusing  to  learn  that  the  contract 
cost  of  the  building  was  only  $3,000.  Of  course  the  subscriptions 
were  in  like  proportion.  The  pulpit  and  the  pews,  together  with  the 
furniture,  demanded  separate  provision.  The  cupola  was  an  after- 
thought, and  its  cost  of  $200  was  met  by  a  distinct  effort.    But  then  all 


6o 

this  was  forty  years  ago,  when  both  business  and  social  life  were  far 
less  advanced  than  now,  and  when,  too,  the  country  was  only  begin- 
ning to  emerge  from  one  of  the  longest  and  severest  financial  depres- 
sions in  its  history.  Nor,  even  upon  this  scale,  was  the  united  effort 
at  home  equal  to  the  undertaking.  The  pastor's  anxiety  led  him 
abroad,  a  solicitor  for  help.  The  associated  church  of  Mount  Pleasant 
generously  responded  to  his  appeal  from  the  pulpit.  A  visit  to  his 
native  place,  brought  help  from  friends  there.  Extending  the  same 
trip  to  the  National  capital,  after  his  attendance  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly at  Baltimore,  he  secured  some  donations  there  also,  one  of  which 
was  from  the  Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  then  in  his  early  service  as 
United  States  Senator.  Further  contributions  also  were  obtained  in 
part  by  the  assistance  of  one  or  two  other  persons  from  Pittsburg, 
Philadelphia,  Uniontown,  and  Congruity,  and  some  from  a  few  friends 
of  other  churches  in  the  town.  Not  any  of  these  gifts  were  large,  but, 
taken  together,  they  supplemented  our  own  deficiency  and  assured 
completion  without  residue  of  debt. 

It  was  a  matter  of  deep  regret  to  the  pastor  himself,  who  regard- 
ed that  building  as,  in  part,  a  crown  of  his  efforts,  as  it  was  also  to 
the  people,  that  it  was  not  quite  finished,  in  time  for  dedication,  at 
his  hands,  previous  to  his  removal  to  another  charge.  Happy,  how- 
ever, he  has  been  to  utter  gospel  messages  in  it,  during  subsequent 
visits,  and,  especially,  at  the  courteous  and  cordial  invitation  of  the 
pastor  and  session,  to  take  part  in  the  Communion  Services  on  the 
last  Sabbath  in  July,  1882,  which  was  the  final  use  of  that  house  of 
worship.  It  was  a  precious  occasion  of  spiritual  enjoyment,  and  a 
crisis  of  intermingled  memory  and  hope.  Nor  was  it  a  less  welcome 
brotherly  recognition  which  brought  the  former  pastor  back  once  more 
to  preach  the  dedication  sermon,  when  this  far  more  magnificent  tem- 
ple of  the  living  God  was  set  apart  to  His  glory,  on  Sabbath,  Septem- 
ber 2 1  St,  1884,  an  occasion  ever  to  be  remembered, 

A  special  request  will  now  take  us  back  to  the  beginning  of  these 
years,  for  a  brief  outline  sketch  of  the  other  branch  of  the  church,  to 
which  frequent  allusion  has  been  made.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  some 
one  could  not  have  been  found  whose  connexion  with  that  history 
would  have  prepared  him  to  do  it  justice.  Especially  is  it  a  subject 
for  lamentation  that,  in  the  passing  away  of  the  organization  itself,  all 
the  sessional  and  congregational  records  have  been  lost.  Of  course, 
therefore,  the  facts  cannot  be  minutely  or  accurately  stated.  But  we 
have  a  rich  compensation  in  the  grateful  memory  that  here  the  con- 
flict between  the  two  "schools"  came  to  a  peaceful  end,  and  all  traces 
of  its  bitterness  were  effaced,  long  before  the  great  crisis  of  1868-69, 
when  the  breach  of  thirty  years  was  healed  by  the  blending  of  the  two 
General  Assemblies,  and  the  churches  at  large — including,  without  ex- 
ception, the  ministers  and  people — into  affectionate  and  permanent 
unity.  The  fit  basis  of  reunion  was  then  found  simply  in  the  "stand- 
ards" as  they  were  from  the  beginning  ;  the  efficient  agency  was  that 
of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  now  twenty  years  of  praise  to  God  have 
sanctified  the  consummation. 


1848—18^2 


6i 

At  the  time  of  the  division  here  the  "New  School"  movement 
carried  with  it  a  large  majority  of  the  congregation,  and  very  largely 
the  sympathy  of  the  community.  The  minority  left  behind,  however, 
was  stronger  otherwise  than  in  numbers.  That  movement,  too,  profit- 
ed by  the  general  excitement,  and  by  promptness  and  vigor  of  oper- 
ation. It  was  still  further  happy  in  the  character  and  zeal  of  the  first 
pastor,  the  Rev.  William  W.  Taylor,  who  was  settled  early  in  1840, 
and  continued  his  earnest  service  for  three  years,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  Canton,  Ohio.  On  the  other  hand  the  "Old  School"  branch  — 
through  which  the  historic  and  ecclesiastical  succession  has  descended 
— was  reorganized  in  much  discouragement,  at  least  ten  months  later, 
and  then  had  to  make  its  way  under  a  leader  fresh  from  the  Seminary, 
and,  withal,  could  only  share  his  service  equally  with  another  church. 
It  has  ever  since  been  a  pleasant  memory  to  each  of  these  first  pastors, 
as  on  occasions  of  meeting  since,  it  has  been  a  subject  of  their  mutual 
congratulation,  that,  coming  hither  in  a  certain  sense  as  competitors, 
upon  the  heels  of  a  fierce  strife,  they  were  enabled,  by  Divine  grace, 
to  preserve  a  brotherly  spirit.  Each  was  true  and  zealous  for  the 
cause  under  his  care,  and  vigorously  conducted  his  own  work,  but,  at 
the  same  time,  inculcated  and  practiced  forbearance,  with  the  benefi- 
cial result  of  an  avoidance  of  collision,  and  an  abatement  of  bitter- 
ness. In  the  common  Christian  Avork  of  Temperance,  Sabbath  ob- 
servance, the  Bible  cause,  &c.,  their  co-operation  was  active  and 
cordial.  And  both  have  lived  to  rejoice  in  the  healing  of  all  the  old 
sores,  and  in  the  triumph  of  peace.  Had  Mr.  Taylor  been  able  to 
join  us  on  this  occasion  he  would  have  found  himself  surrounded  with 
its  full  fellowship,  whilst  old  friends  would  have  been  glad  to  look  into 
his  face  again.  In  his  absence  we  shall  still  enjoy  his  written  reminis- 
cences His  two  only  children  sleep  here  in  your  lovely  city  of  the 
dead,  in  pledge  of  perfect  union  at  "the  resurrection  of  the  just." 
Having  served  in  the  pastoral  relation  in  several  places  up  to  1881,  he 
now  has  his  home  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  the  place  of  his  nativity 
after  laying  down  his  beloved  wife  there,  four  years  ago,  for  her  rest' 
in  the  grave.  But  glad  in  the  memories  of  a  half  century  of  work 
for  Christ,  he  still  proclaims  the  same  gospel  message  with  the  old 
ardor  of  his  youth. 

After  Mr.  Taylor's  departure,  that  branch  of  the  church  ceased 
to  flourish  as  before.  Indeed,  as  time  elapsed,  and  the  fires  of  parti- 
sanship cooled,  the  folly  of  maintaining  two  Presbyterian  churches  in 
a  small  town,  without  any  adequate  reason  for  it,  became  more  appa- 
rent. As  we  have  seen,  not  a  few  supporters  of  the  movement,  acting 
upon  this  principle,  quietly  transferred  their  relation  to  the  other 
church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hastings,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Forster,  and  the 
Rev.  A.  G.  Moss  supplied  the  pulpit  for  different  periods,  with  inter- 
val of  vacancy  between  them,  the  last  only  having  been  installed  as 
pastor,  and,  as  such,  serving  in  the  years  1846  and  1847.  About  the 
time  of  the  completion  of  the  new  church  of  1848,  the  last  remnant 
of  those  who  claimed  to  be  "Constitutional  Presbyterians,"  followed 
their  brethren  into  the  old  church,  and  from  that  time  until  now,  the 


62 

entire  element,  without  adverse    current   or   eddy,  have  flowed  peace- 
fully in  one  channel,  with  ever  increasing  volume  and  force. 

It  only  now  remains,  after  this  digression,  to  record  some  gen- 
eral memories  of  the  years  covered  by  this  sketch,  which  may  still 
better  serve  to  bring  the  past  into  its  proper  relation  to  the  present 
situation.  In  more  respects  than  one,  that  was  a  'day  of  small 
things."  But  as  in  the  morning  sunlight,  a  pebble  will  cast  a  shadow 
many  times  its  own  size  and  far  beyond  its  possibility  at  high  noon, 
so  that  history  of  struggle  for  a  church's  life  was  far-reaching. 

One  of  the  most  significant  contrasts  is  seen  in  the  advance  of 
the  population  of  Greensburg  from  one  thousand  in  1840  to  six  times 
that  number,  including  the  suburbs,  at  the  present  time.  Not  less  is 
the  contrast,  as  seen  in  the  variety  and  energy  of  business.  Then  the 
town  was  little  beyond  what  it  was  made  by  being  the  county  seat, 
the  wealth  of  its  own  people  seeking  investment  abroad,  rather  than 
fostering  enterprise  at  home.  A  general  source  of  depression,  how- 
ever, existed  in  the  financial  derangement  which  prevailed  over  the 
whole  country,  growing  directly  or  incidentally  out  of  the  contest 
about  the  renewal  of  the  charter  of  the  United  States  Bank,  which 
had  for  the  most  part  controlled  the  currency.  Its  defeat  by  execu- 
tive veto,  the  various  policies  which  followed  for  the  management  ot 
the  National  funds,  the  great  crash  and  suspension  of  specie  payments 
in  1837,  the  scarcity  of  good  money,  the  depression  of  property  and 
wages,  and  the  general  destruction  of  business  confidence,  followed 
with  a  great  political  upheaval  — these  are  great  historic  facts,  variously 
interpreted  in  the  hot  strifes  of  those  tempestuous  times.  But  what- 
ever was  the  merit  of  bitterly  opposite  opinions,  one  general  result 
was  certain.  Values  were  reduced  to  a  minimum  ;  exchanges  were 
chiefly  made  in  trade,  with  little  circulation  of  money  ;  the  purchasing 
power  of  a  good  dollar  was  at  least  three  or  four  times  what  it  is  now 
and  money  making  and  the  cost  of  living  came  down  to  a  level 
scarcely  conceivable  by  this  generation. 

The  young  pastor  of  those  days  was  a  sharer  of  the  advantages 
and  disadvantages.  Do  not  smile  when  t  tell  you  that  his  salary  was 
$500  per  annum,  one-half  of  it  being  paid  by  each  of  his  churches. 
That  was  indeed  the  highest  amount  given  to  any  pastor  in  either  of 
the  contiguous  Presbyteries.  But  the  cost  of  living  was  in  proportion. 
A  list  of  prices  would  be  humorous  to  the  ears  of  the  present  genera 
tion.  Perhaps  it  would  be  as  fair  a  presentation  as  any  to  say  that 
during  the  two  years  preceding  the  organization  of  a  family  home, 
the  cost  for  boarding  was  $1.50  per  week,  and  that  included  a 
furnished,  lighted  and  heated  room  and  all  other  needful  accommoda- 
tions. The  cost  of  keeping  the  pastor's  horse  was  just  the  same  as 
for  himself,  from  which  solitary  fact  it  is  not  to  be  inferred  that  they 
were  of  precisely  equal  value  to  the  congregation  and  community. 
The  first  of  these  years  of  "single  blessedness"  was  spent  in  a  boarding 
house  kept  for  the  time  by  Elder  Ramsey  ;  during  the  summer  of  1842 
the  pastor  was  generously  admitted  as  an  inmate  of  the  family  of  Mr. 
Jacob  Welty,  and  as  kindly  treated  ;  and  the  following  winter  he    had 


63 

the  best  accommodations  of  the  Westmoreland  Hotel,  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  well-known  Col.  F.  A.  Rohrer.  Salaries  and  expenses 
responded  to  each  other  then  as  now.  The  succe.ssors  have  "risen 
with  the  country  !"  Up  to  January,  1S49,  whereof  we  speak,  the 
thunder  of  the  great  Pennsylvania  Railroad  had  not  stirred  the  echoes 
of  your  hills  and  valleys,  but  it  has  since  been  the  incessant  music  of 
progress.  Your  immense  coal  fields  had  not  yet  been  developed,  nor 
in  natural  and  manufactured  gas,  as  well  as  water  works,  had  you  come 
to  your  present  high  estate.  Perhaps,  like  another  community  which 
1  might  name,  you  may  yet  "dip  your  feet  in  oil." 

If,  however,  general  business  was  dull  forty-five  years  ago,  this  com- 
munity still  had  men  of  high  integrity  and  thrift.  The  venerable 
Simon  Drum  held  the  postoffice  through  all  changes  from  the  admin- 
istration of  Jefferson  until  1848.  The  Welty  brothers,  H.  Y.  Brady, 
Dr.  John  Morrison,  and  others,  were  fair  specimens  of  sound  and  safe, 
if  not  adventurous  merchants.  But  the  professions  much  more  em- 
bodied the  enterprise  of  the  times.  Drs.  James  Postlethwaite,  Alfred 
T.  King  (a  scientist  as  well),  and  S.  P.  Brown  were  physicians  worthy 
of  any  people  seeking  ability  in  the  healing  art.  The  bar,  with  the 
Hon.  Thomas  White  as  President  Judge,  was  hardly  surpassed.  The 
fame  of  Judge  Young,  John  B.  Alexander,  A.  W.  Foster,  and  John  Y. 
Barclay  survived  them  as  an  inheritance  of  just  pride.  Richard 
Coulter  was  "facile  princeps"  among  the  living  in  ability  and 
eloquence,  until  his  advancement,  in  1845,  ^'^  ^^^  Supreme  Bench, 
but  was  surrounded  by  most  worthy  competitors  in  the  persons  of  H. 
D.  Foster,  A.  G.  ^archand,  John  Armstrong,  Sr.,  John  F.  Beaver, 
and  J.  M.  Burrell,  the  first  three  of  whom,  like  himself,  won  seats  in 
Congress,  whilst  the  last  afterwards  became  Judge.  My  own  noble 
relative,  James  Findlay,  had  been  among  the  foremost  of  their  num- 
ber, but  retiring  from  public  service  at  Harrisburg,  he  had  removed  to 
Pittsburg,  where  growing  honors  and  success  crowned  his  efforts  up  to 
his  lamented  death,  in  1842.  Edgar  Cowan  ( U.  S.  Senator  for  the 
years  1861-67),  ^-  C.  Marchand  (but  lately  called  from  life  in  the 
full  tide  of  prosperity),  H.  P.  Laird  (late  a  State  Senator),  John  Arm- 
strong, Jr.,  and  James  C.  Clarke  were  among  those  who  entered  the 
race  in  the  period  now  before  us,  and  as  successful  rivals  for  fame  and 
fortune,  carried  down  the  honor  of  the  Westmoreland  bar  to  a  later 
generation.  The  two  most  permanent  clergymen  were  the  Rev. 
Michael  J.  Steck,  of  the  Lutheran  church,  who  departed  to  his  rest  in 
1848,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  N.  P.  Hacke,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church 
from  early  life  until  his  death  at  an  advanced  age,  1878  ;  the  English 
branches  of  those  churches,  though  projected,  not  having  come  to 
organization.  The  Protestant  Episcopal,  Methodist  and  Reformed 
Presbyterian  churches  were  zealously  maintained,  but  each  had  a  rapid 
succession  of  ministers. 

The  Cxreensburg  Academy  was,  in  those  days,  one  of  the  marked 
institutions  of  the  town.  It  flourished  under  the  efficient  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  W.  W.  Woodend  (afterwards  the  Rev.  Dr.  Woodend, 
of  Saltsburg),  but  languished  under  his  successors  and  finally  gave 
place  to  the  Union  School,  located  on  the  same  site.       The  Academy 


64 

having  received  partial  endowment  from  the  State,  as  several  other 
like  institutions  did  about  that  time,  was  loaded  by  the  Legislature 
with  the  absurd  requirement  that  two  of  its  eight  Trustees  should  be 
elected  at  each  annual  election  of  vStaie  and  county  officers  by  the 
voters  of  the  whole  county.  The  result  was,  of  course,  that  the  nom- 
inations were  made  at  the  party  conventions,  and  the  selections  were 
limited  to  the  dominant  party,  though  without  political  advantage. 
The  people  of  the  country  districts  knew  little  and  cared  less  for  an 
institution  from  which  they  received  no  benefit.  As  a  natural  con- 
sequence, with  the  exception  of  the  two  excellent  German  clergymen, 
the  successful  nominees  were,  for  the  most  part,  young  aspirants  to 
whom  such  publicity  offered  the  hope  of  ulterior  promotion.  It  was 
in  these  circumstances  that  a  feeling  arose  among  thoughtful  persons 
of  both  parties  in  favor  of  redeeming  the  corporate  management  to 
the  interests  of  education  pure  and  simple.  As  a  token  of  non- 
partisanship  in  this  direction,  the  party  of  the  minority  offered  in 
nomination  as  "Trustees  of  the  Academy,"  an  Elder  of  this  church, 
John  Armstrong,  Sr. ,  and  the  pastor,  without  consulting  either  of 
them.  Conceive  of  the  latter's  shock  when  he  learned  of  this  move- 
ment by  seeing  his  name  paraded  in  the  list  of  party  nominations. 
He  was  about  to  withdraw  his  name,  but  some  of  his  amused  friends 
of  both  parties  counseled  meek  submission  to  his  fate,  inasmuch  as 
there  was  not  the  slightest  danger  of  his  election.  The  election  day 
came  and  went ;  these  two  candidates  ran  abreast,  and  the  majority 
against  them  was  reduced  to  about  fifteen  hundred  votes.  We  did 
not  go  in  with  a  ground-swell.  At  the  Presidential  election,  a  short 
time  previous,  Henry  Clay  fell  behind  his  opponent  some  twenty-seven 
hundred  in  the  county  vote.  The  consolation,  therefore,  was  that  the 
earthquake  was  not  more  severe.  If  the  pastor  had  been  affected  with 
political  ambition,  you  may  well  believe  him  thenceforth  cured  for  the 
rest  of  his  life  ! 

Perhaps  it  may  be  pardonable,  at  this  point,  to  indulge  a  remi- 
niscence of  the  Mexican  war.  A  company  of  brave  young  men  of  the 
townand  county,  some  of  whom  were  sons  of  this  congregation,  was 
formed  under  the  lead  of  Captain  John  W.  Johnston  and  First  Lieu- 
tenant James  Armstrong,  to  encounter  hostile  Mexicans  and  Southern 
swamps  under  the  U.  S.  flag.  Some  of  those  boys  in  blue  were  killed 
in  battle ;  some  returned  to  be  nursed  and  buried,  leaving  others 
behind  them,  as  victims  of  adverse  climate,  to  fill  inhospitable  graves ; 
whilst  others,  such  as  Coulter  (since  a  hero  in  bloodier  warfare),  his  ex- 
cellent cousin,  Kuhns,  and  the  lamented  H.  C.  Marchand  and  Thomas 
J.  Barclay  returned  for  long  service  to  their  age  and  country  on  the  soil 
that  gave  them  birth.  Many  were  the  tears  shed  at  the  departure  of 
the  gallant  one  hundred;  many  tokens  of  remembrance  were  placed 
in  their  hands,  and  many  letters  of  love  followed  them.  But  no 
demonstration  so  touched  their  hearts  as  the  gift  ot  a  handsome  pocket 
Bible  to  each  soldier  from  the  County  Bible  Society.  It  was  my 
honor  to  present  these  memorials  to  the  marshaled  company,  address- 
ing them  from  the  steps  of  the  old  Court  House,  receiving  from  them 
undivided  and    tearful    attention.     The  fit  and  appreciative  reply  of 


65 

accc])tancc'  was  matlc  by  Cor])oral  Andrew  Ross,  whose  fiice,  alas  !  we 
never  saw  iigain.  Beside  the  audible  words,  many  a  silent  prayer  as- 
(  ended  heavenward  from  melted  hearts  in  that  asseml)led  crowd  for 
(lod's  blessing  upon  each  re(i|Ment  of  the  sacred  Word. 

There  is  only  time  for  one  more  memory  of  those  by-gone  times. 
The  Christian  women  of  that  day  were  without  the  grand  organizations 
and  high  inspiration  under  which  those  of  to  day  advance  the  cause 
of  the  Lord  at  home  and  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Yet,  as  always, 
they  wrought  for  Christ  according  to  their  opportunities.  Their 
places  were  seldom  vacant  in  church  or  prayer  meeting,  however  vari- 
ations of  weather  or  counter  claims  might  affect  the  other  sex,  nor  did 
they  leave  their  pastor  in  doubt  concerning  their  sympathy  with  his 
work.  The  Sabbath  s(  hool  ijrofited  by  iheir  labor.  The  Missionary 
Sewing  Society  held  weekl)  meetings  from  house  to  house,  and  plied 
their  needles,  like  Dorcas,  in  the  cause  of  the  Lord.  Now  and  then 
indeed  a  spice  of  pleasantry  and  humor  was  intermingled  with  their 
religious  earnestness,  whereof  one  representative  illustration  will 
suffice.  Mother  "Grimes,"  our  old  Elder's  wife,  was  gratified  with 
the  frequent  meetings  of  the  society  at  her  house,  a  rural  home  a  short 
distance  from  town.  The  ladies,  knowing  well  her  rather  extravagant 
devotion  to  the  young  pastor,  did  not  fail  from  time  to  time  to  draw 
forth  for  their  own  amusement  her  decided  statement  of  his  qualities, 
and  as  her  memory  had  weakened,  each  recital  was  in  the  line  of  the 
preceding,  and  the  story  of  particulars  invariably  ended  with  the 
crownintj  excellency  of  promise  in  these  words,  viz;  ''And  that's 
not  the  l)est  of  it,  yoimg  ladies,  for  there' s  g7'eat  room  for  imp7'ovemeni, 
so  there  /s."  It  was  the  truest  of  all  her  enumerations,  though  she 
may  not  have  accurately  expressed  her  own  meaning.  The  joint 
merriment  of  the  ladies  and  the  pastor,  on  their  report  of  the  eulogies 
of  one  of  his  best  friends,  may  be  left  to  imagination. 

But  these  years  have  long  since  borne  their  report  to  heaven. 
Their  most  abiding  earihly  record  is  upon  human  hearts.  Our  parting 
nearly  forty  years  ago,  though  controlled  by  a  sense  of  duty,  was 
painful,  but  it  was  not  marked  with  alienation.  Your  pastor,  timid 
and  treml)ling  then  under  res])onsibility,  carried  with  him  friendshii)s 
as  al)idingas  life.  He  loves  still  to  look  into  the  faces  of  the  surviv- 
ors of  those  friends  of  his  youth,  and  to  recall  the  memories  of  the 
dead,  standing  by  their  graves.  He  still  loves  the  dear  church,  however 
<hanged  in  its  membership  and  house  of  worship,  and  enjoys  the  com- 
munion of  its  solemn  feasts,  as  occasion  iiTay  permit.  But  what  could 
surpass  in  interest  this  centin"y  retrospect — this  rekindling  of  memory's 
sacred  fires — this  re<  all  of  the  entire  past  for  holy  meditation  upon 
the  work  of  man  and  the  gifts  of  God  ;  yea,  even  ui)on  human  short- 
coming forgiven  and  overruled  for  the  advancement  of  the  church 
and  the  cause  of  her  hend  ?  ()iil\'  Irom  this  summit  of  vision,  where 
ceiuuries  meet,  applying  ilie  le.isons  of  the  years  gone,  let  us  look  up- 
.vard  and  forward  m  holy  dedication,  and  with  ceaseless  longing  for 
the  world-wide  trium|)hs  ai.d  heavenly  glory  of  the  everlasting  king- 
dom. Joined  in  Christ  to  the  believing  generations  which  have  gone 
before  us,  by  ties  which  ''neither  death  nor  life"^  can  break,  why  shall 


66 

not  our  faith  rest  confidently — in  the  face  of  "things  present"  and 
"things  tocome" — ui)on  the  all-prevalent  prayer  of  the  ever  living  Inter- 
cessor, "neither  for  these  alone,  but  for  them,  also,  which  shall  believe 
on  me  through  theirword,"  assured  that  He  will  bring  the  innumerable 
ransomed  of  the  future  into  the  fellowship  of  the  same  glorified  com- 
pany and  up  to  the  raptures  of  the  same  notes  of  glory. 

"Thus  through  the  years  of  ages  long  ago, 

Thus  in  the  changes  of  these  latter  days  : 
One  only  Lord,  our  Lord,  above,  below. 

And  He  the  object  of  our  endless  praise  : 
This  the  same  key-note  of  unumbered  lyres  ! 

This,  too,  th'  imending  song  of  sweet  accord  ! 
O,  world — ye  have  no  theme  that  thus  inspires: 

Ye  still  reject  and  crucify  the  Lord." 


*^^V'.  VV.  H.  CtU^^ 


67 


ADDRESS 


ON    THE 


LitE   AND  Character  of   Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  Pastor    from 

1856-65,  BY  his  Son,  Rev.   James  Power  Smith, 

OF  Fredericksburg,  Virginia. 


Christian  Brethren  and  Friends  : 

It  has  greatly  interested  and  moved  iiie  to  be  with  you  in  your 
Centennial  Celebration.  1  was  once  a  youth  myself  in  this  church, 
and  have  my  own  pleasant  recollections  of  life  in  Greensburg,  and  of 
the  services  and  work  of  the  churcli.  In  all  the  story  of  your  church's 
life  and  growth  and  faithfulness,  I  have  the  deeijest  interest,  and  I 
thank  you  heartily  for  calling  me  from  my  distant  home  to  share  your 
rejoicings  on  this  occasion. 

I  must  believe  that  Western  Pennsylvania  has  rarely  had  a  more 
loyal  son  than  my  father,  Jose[)h  Smith,  one  of  your  former  pastors. 
The  grandson  of  the  pioneers  of  Presbyterian  Christianity  in  this 
country,  Joseph  Smith  and  James  Power.  His  mind  was  early  en- 
gaged with  the  family  traditions  of  migration  and  primitive  life,  and 
the  wide  work  of  evangelization,  and  church  and  social  organization, 
which  they,  with  other  noble  men,  did  in  this  far  Western  land.  He 
was  himself  born  in  the  county  of  Fayette,  but  wlien  only  two  years 
old  his  father  moved  to  Rostraver  township,  in  this  county  of  West- 
moreland, and  here  he  spent  his  childhood  and  grew  to  the  years  and 
stature  of  manhood.  Wherever  afterwards  he  sojourned  for  awhile, 
Westmoreland  was  home  to  him.  His  deep  attachment  to  this  coun- 
ty, its  history,  its  traditions,  and  his  interest  in  its  development, 
never  faded  away,  but  deepened  and  strengthened  through  all  his  later 
years.  The  earlier  years  of  his  manhood  were  s])ent  in  great  part  in 
other  States  ;  in  Virginia,  in  Maryland,  and  in  Ohio,  but  wherever  he 
lived  and  labored,  his  heart's  home  was  this  Western  Pennsylvania, 
the  home  of  his  father,  and  of  his  own  youth,  and  to  it  he  returned 
in  later  years  with  a  profound  satisfaction. 


68 

He  was  born  July  15th,  1795.  ^^  would  be  92  years  of  age  if 
he  were  living  to-day.  He  graduated  at  JeffersonCoUege,  September, 
1815.  During  the  last  year  of  his  college  life  he  made  confession  of 
his  faith  in  Christ.  After  teaching  in  Virginia  a  year  or  two,  he 
entered  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  where  he  spent  three  years 
of  great  profit  and  pleasure  with  a  class  of  men  destined  to  make  a 
distinguished  mark  in  the  church  of  Christ.  Bishops  Johns,  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  Mcllwaine,  of  Ohio,  of  the  Episcopal  church  ;  Dr.  Chas. 
Hodge,  of  Princeton  ;  Dr.  M.  B.  Sprague,  of  Albany,  and  Dr. 
Francis  McFarland,  of  Virginia,  were  classmates  and  friends.  His 
intimate  association  with  men  of  such  stamp,  and  his  subsequent 
correspondence  with  them,  I  doubt  not,  influeticed  greatly  both  his 
character  and  his  life,  widening  his  sympathies  both  for  churches  and 
sections,  and  deepening  his  interest  in  the  theological,  ecclesiastical, 
historical,  and  educational  work  in  which,  with  such  notable  men,  he 
was  himself  engaged. 

From  superior  clerical  scholarship  and  his  early  experience  in 
teaching,  his  services  were  sought  for  in  academies  and  colleges  ;  and 
much  labor  was  given  to  such  work  in  the  early  half  of  his  ministry. 
But  his  chief  interest  was  in  the  more  direct  ministerial  work,  and  he 
labored  with  earnestness,  fidelity,  and  success  in  Maryland,  at 
Frederick  City  ;  in  Ohio  at  New  Athens  and  St.  Clairsville,  and  in 
Pennsylvania  at  Elizabeth  and  Round  Hill,  and  last  here  in  Greens- 
burg. 

While  pastor  at  Elizabeth  and  Round  Hill  he  visited  Greensburg, 
in  the  fall  of  1855,  and  a  call— unanimous,  I  believe — was  extended 
to  him  from  this  church.  An  arrangement  was  made  by  which  he 
began  January  ist,  1856,  to  give  one-half  of  his  time  to  Greensburg, 
continuing  that  winter  to  give  to  the  former  church  the  other  half  of 
his  time.  But  after  the  ist  of  April  he  gave  to  Greensburg  three- 
fourths  of  his  time,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church. 

At  the  communion  season,  on  the  second  Sabbath  of  May,  he 
was  assisted  by  Drs.  Gillett  and  Brownson,  and  his  heart  was  greatly 
moved  and  rejoiced  by  the  gathering  of  the  people  ;  by  additions  to 
the  church,  and  by  indication  of  the  Spirit's  reviving  power. 

When  he  came  to  Greensburg  the  town  liad  about  1,200  popula- 
tion, and  the  church  numbered  about  eighty  four.  I  think  it  had 
been  weakened  and  somewhat  divided  by  previous  troubles,  but  he 
was  greatly  gratified  and  encouraged,  when,  by  the  gracious  moving 
of  revival,  all  occasion  and  evidence  of  alienation  and  estrangement 
seemed  obliterated. 

With  his  growing  interest  in  his  work  here,  and  its  widening 
opportunities,  he  was  faithfully  concerned  in  Presbyterial  work  ;  and 
found  time  to  do  nuich  writing,  preparing  his  "History  of  Jefferson 
College,"  and  a  second  volume  of  his  "Old  Redstone." 

A  very  gracious  and  extensive  awakening  and  revival  came  in 
1861,  which  resulted  in  doubling  the  number,  and  greatly  strengthen- 
ing and  encouraging  the  church.     The  notes  of  autobiography,  which 


6g 

lie  prepared  for  his  family,  covering  his  life  in  Greensburg,  record  his 
attendance  ui)on  the  meetings  of  Presbytery,  and  of  Synod  ;  his  visits 
to  other  churches;  the  communion  meetings  here,  with  the  entertain- 
ment of  many  visiting  brethren. 

But  the  most  deeply  marked  feature  of  his  ten  years  in  tlie  church 
of  Greensburg,  is  that  it  was  the  ten  years  of  the   agitation  and  alien 
ation  of  the  war  period       As  this  community  was  moved  to  its  dejjth, 
and  the   whole  social    organization    upheaved,  it   was  a  time  of  sorest 
trial  to  the  history  of  this  church. 

In  his  own  conviction  and  actions,  my  father  was  loyal  to  his 
State,  and  to  the  Federal  Government,  intelligently,  sincerely,  and 
decide(ily,  yet  he  knew  the  other  side  as  few  around  him  could  have 
known  it.  His  own  early  years  of  ministry  in  the  South,  his  marriage 
there  ;  his  large  and  valuable  acquaintance,  the  fact  that  three  of  his. 
adult  children  were  in  the  South,  and  with  the  South,  did  not  swerve 
him  from  his  own  conviction,  but  served  to  open  his  eyes  to  all  sides 
of  the  questions  at  issue,  and  made  him  thouglitful  and  cautious  in  his 
words. 

With  most  hearty  interest,  I  have  lately  read  again  his  own  notes 
of  all  this  period,  so  eventful  and  serious.  It  brought  him  into  pastoral 
and  neighborly  contact  with  the  people,  through  years  of  intense  party 
passion,  and  of  sore  family  afflictions,  a  most  difficult  and  burdened 
position. 

His  notes  bear  witness  clearly  of  these  things  : 

1.  That  under  a  cheerful  exterior  there  was  a  sorely  burdened 
heart,  and  often  a  perplexed  mind.  He  would  have  been  more  than 
human  if  in  all  the  exigencies  of  such  a  life  and  such  a  condition, 
there  had  never  shown  depression  of  spirit,  or  anxiety  of  tone. 

2.  There  is  a  frequently  repeated  expression  of  devout  gratitude 
to  God  for  all  His  mercies  to  his  family,  to  his  people,  and  to  his 
country. 

3.  There  is  a  notable  absence  of  complaint  or  any  word  of  re- 
proach, or  bitterness.  So  that  if  these  notes  of  private  character 
were  published  in  full  there  is  no  one  in  Greensburg,  or  in  the  world, 
who  would  be  grieved  thereby. 

4.  I  am  struck  by  the  coinpletcness  of  the  life  of  my  father.  He 
preached  the  Gospel  for  fifty  years,  and  was  the  means,  he  humbly 
believed,  in  bringing  500  souls  to  Christ.  When  the  half  century  of 
earnest  ministry  was  accomplished,  there  came  a  paralysis  of  the  vocal 
organs,  and  he  was  laid  aside  from  pulpit  work.  Then  just  one  year 
was  given  of  rest  on  earth,  of  retrospect  and  prospect  ;  one  year  in 
which  to  set  his  house  in  order.  Until,  at  last,  one  day  he  came  again 
to  the  town,  and  when  his  simple  errands  were  accomplished  he 
turned  and  lingered  at  the  street  corner,  and  gazed  awhile  through 
dimming  eyes  as  if  he  knew  he  would  not  again  look  upon  familiar 
scenes,  and  then  slowly  he  made  his  way  back  to  his  home  in 
Ludwick. 

One  evening  soon  after,  he  closed  the  volume  of  MSS.  he  had 
written  to  its  end,  saying,  "1  will  rest  awhile,"    and   his   life's    work 


70 

was  done.  We  do  not  often  hear,  in  this  world  of  incompleteness 
and  broken  plans,  of  a  human  life  so  well  spent  and  so  completely 
finished  to  a  natural  and  expected  end.  Books,  papers,  sermons  were 
all  found  in- exact  order  The  memories  of  his  life,  written  for  his 
own  review  of  life  and  to  gratify  his  children,  had  been  written  to  the 
very  end.      The  very  last  lines  being  an  anticipation  of  the  time: 

"When  this  poor  lisping,  stammering  tongue 
Lies  silent  in  the  grave." 

May  not  a  son  say  for  his  father  :  he  was  a  gentleman,  a  scholar, 
a  Christian,  a  faithful  minister  of  the  Word,  a  good  friend  and  neigh- 
bor, and  a  noble  father. 

He  did  not  live  to -see  the  later  growth  of  Greensburg,  in  popula- 
tion and  wealth.  He  did  not  live  to  see  the  growth  of  this  congrega- 
tion, and  this  beautiful  church  building,  but  it  was  his  difficult  work 
to  take  the  church,  weakened  and  divided,  and  through  ten  years  of 
public  turmoil  and  civil  war,  bear  it  safely  through  to  the  smooth 
waters  of  blessed  peace  ;  to  minister  in  fidelity  to  those  of  all  factions  ; 
to  preserve  the  unity  and  peace  of  the  church,  at  such  a  time,  without 
offence  ;  still  seeking  the  higher  spiritual  welfare  of  all  and  striving  to 
soothe  the  bitter  animosities  of  the  times.  And  when  war  was  ended, 
and  its  fierce  passions  at  last  allayed,  and  the  long,  trying  period 
passed  and  gone,  then  he  lay  down  his  sacred  trust  at  the  feet  of  his 
Maker,  and  left  the  church  in  harmony,  in  strength,  in  hopefulness,  to 
begin  a  new  and  happier  era  of  peace  and  service. 

This  was  a  work  not  every  man  could  do. 

And  this  was  the  work,  difficult  and  yet  successful,  that  completed 
and  crowned  his  life-long  service  of  Christ. 


71 


REV.  W.  H.  GILL'S  PASTORATE.— 1866-70. 


INTRODUCTION. 

My  association  with  Greensburp^  and  with  this  church  dates 
from  the  autumn  of  1866 — thus  extendins^  over  almost  one-fourth 
of  the  Centennial  period  we  now  celebrate.  I  had  just  entered 
upon  my  senior  year  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  when, 
through  the  good  offices  of  Mr.  John  Moore,  a  class-mate  and 
friend,  and  nephew  of  J.  R.  McAfee,  Esq.,  of  this  church.  I  w^as 
invited  to  supply  its  pulpit  for  a  Sabbath.  At  that  time  the 
church  had  been  without  a  pastor  for  about  a  twelvemonth. 

FIRST  IMPRESSIONS. 

It  was  the  evening  of  Saturday.  September  15th,  of  that  year, 
when,  for  the  first  time,  as  the  train  on  its  eastern  journey 
rounded  the  curve  and  straightened  itself  out  as  it  approached 
the  station,  that  the  ancient,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  comet- 
shaped  town,  destined  to  become  so  intimately  connected  with 
my  subsequent  life,  burst  upon  my  sight.  The  feeling  awakened 
by  this  first  glimpse  of  the  place  was  one  of  pleasant  sm-prise, 
tinged  with  a  slight  touch  of  melancholy. 

Unlike  most  of  cities  and  towns,  which,  when  they  gr(nv  at  all, 
extend  toward  the  west,  Greensburg,  like  that  eccentric  member 
of  the  solar  system  to  which,  from  its  apparent  linear  contour  I 
have  likened  it,  being  a  land  unto  itself,  seemed  heading  for  the 
north,  with  its  long  tail  stretching  away  far  to  the  southward. 

Standing  conspicuously  out  above  all  other  objects  which 
first  arrested  my  attention,  was  the  academy,  or  public  school 
building — an  edifice  which,  whether  viewed  in  the  light  of  its 
own  splendid  proportions  or  the  beneficent  uses  to  which  it  is 
put,  like  the  eye  in  the  comet's  head  or  the  diadem  on  the  brow 
of  royalty  itself,  is  every  way  worthy  of  the  people,  the  cause  of 
which  it  is  the  exponent,  and  the  commanding  eminence  on 
which  it  stands. 

Those  two  statelv  mansicjns  a  little  way  to  the  south  of  these 
classic  precincts — the  one  new,  bright  and  cheery,  the  other  of 
dark  and  somber  hue,  in  the  midst  of  spacious  grounds,  gave  an  air 
of   wealth  and  comfort  to  the  place. 


72 

That  rectangular  g-rcy-stone  structure,  large  and  solid,  which 
next  met  my  eye  as  it  followed  the  descent  of  the  hill  and  the 
course  of  the  town,  its  high  dome  lifting  itself  up  in  stately 
grandeur  above  the  surrounding  buildings,  vouclied  at  (jnce  for 
the  wealth  and  liberality  of  the  denizens  of  old  Westmoreland  and 
the  high  regard  for  that  divinity  which,  with  blind-fold  eyes, 
holds  in  her  strong  right  hand,  with  even  scale,  the  balance  in 
which  are  weighed  the  claims  of  disputants.  That  building,  I 
needed  no  one  to  tell  me,  is  the  Temple  of  Justice. 

In  contrast,  unfavorable  and  strong,  however,  to  tliese  evi- 
dences of  progressiveness  and  public  spirit,  were  the  various 
ecclesiastical  edifices — that  class  of  buildings  in  which  I  natural!)' 
had  the  deepest  interest — which  presented  themselves  to  view. 
From  the  grand  proportions  and  architectural  taste  and  splendor 
of  these  places  of  worship  which  now  adorn  the  town,  and  which, 
in  every  instance,  have  taken  the  places  of  those  which  then  met 
the  eye,  on  coming  from  the  West,  a  stranger  would  be  imable 
to  form  any  adequate  idea  of  the  small  dimensions,  the  architect- 
ural bcjldness  and  incongruities,  the  primitive  simplicity  and  an- 
tiquity of  appearance,  and  the  general  evidence  of  decrepitude 
and  decay  the  various  "meeting  houses"  of  that  day  presented, 
and  to  which  the  Catholic  church  of  the  Holy  Sacrament  on  tlie 
hill  was  not  an  exception. 

Now,  if  one  were  to  judge  yf  the  spiritual  condition  of  the 
people  from  these  external  appearances,  it  was  impossible  not  to 
experience  a  feeling  of  depression.  The  children  of  the  world,  it 
was  evident,  were  far  wiser  and  more  progressive  in  their  genera- 
tion than  the  children  of  the  light.  The  period  of  the  renais- 
sance and  spiritual  regeneration  which  has  since  come,  was  then 
greatly  needed  to  rescue  the  churches  from  absolute  spiritual  de- 
cay and  death. 

"meeting  houses." 

The  "Old  Bee-hive,"  asthe  meeting  house  of  the  First  Reformed 
church  was  commonly  called, — two-storied,  many-windowed, — ■ 
from  its  shape,  at  least,  resembled  more  the  Heavenly  Jerusalem 
itself — a  city  which  "lieth  four-square,"  its  "walls  great  and  high," 
having  at  least  four  gates;  on  the  east  one  gate;  on  the  north 
one  gate;  on  the  south  one  gate,  and  on  the  west  one  gate. 

Unlike  its  Teutonic  neighbor,  the  Presbyterian  meeting 
house  was  an  oblong  structure,  having  basement  and  auditorium, 
standing  due  east  and  west,  without  ecclesiastical  pretention  or 
embellishment  other  than  its  gothic  windows  with  pointed  arch, 
and  a  steeple  which,  at  its  most  easterly  point,  bestrode  the 
roof,  and  which,  from  its  peculiar  position  and  appearance,  ob- 
tained for  itself  the  somewhat  prosaic  and  plebeian  appellation  of 
"saddlebags."  Owing  to  the  peculiar  lie  of  the  ground,  the  hill 
sloping  away  with  a  sharp  descent  both  to  the  south  and  west 
the  entire  length  and  breadth  of  the  building,  the  gable  end,  which 
stood  on   the    plane,    being   much    higher   and   heavier   than    the 


73 

front  elevation,  gave  to  the  edifice  a  sort  of  Icangaroo  appear- 
ance; wliile,  if  one's  eye  took  in  tiie  aforementioned  saddleloag 
superincumbence,  the  whole  bore  some  reseml^hmce  to  the 
camel  or  elepliant  with  the  lunvdah  upon  their  backs,  kneeling  to 
allow  tlic  passengers  to  be  seated  in  the  litter. 

rRANSFUlURATION. 

(}\\  that  Saturday  evening,  however,  as  I  made  my  first  ap- 
proach to  these  wierd  scenes,  the  sun,  as  he  descended  the 
steeps  of  the  western  heavens,  poured  in  rich  effusion  his  slant- 
ing rays  upon  the  dreamy  prospect;  gilding  the  cross  upon  the 
spire  of  the  church  of  the  Holy  Sacrament;  burnishing  into 
golden  brightness  the  court  house  dome;  enwrapping  as  in  one 
mass  of  fiame  alike  both  public  building  and  private  mansion, 
reminding  one  of  the  bush  that  burned  but  was  not  consumed; 
touching  with  unearthly  splendor  the  humblest  dw^elling;  and  so 
flooding  the  many  new-domed  "Bee-hive,"  and  through  the  two 
glass-enclosed  apertures  in  its  gable  end,  the  Presbyterian  meeting 
house,  with  celestial  light,  that  these  antique  structures  seemed, 
as  it  were,  transfigured.  Even  as  "with  unveiled  face,"  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  those  who  assembled  therein  for  w^orship,  "reflecting  as  a 
mirror  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  transformed  into  the  same  image 
from  glorv  to  glory,  even  as  from  the  Lord,  the  Spirit." 

FIRST  SKRMON   IN  GRERNSBURG. 

My  first  sermon  in  the  pulpit  here  was  preached  on  Sabbath 
morning,  September  i6th,  1866,  and  was  also  the  first  I  had  ever 
composed.  The  text  was  John  4:10,  and  the  theme,  "Living 
Water."  This,  however,  was  neither  the  first  nor  the  last  time  I 
drew  water  from  Jacob's  well,  this  sermon  having  been  preached, 
up  to  date,  at  least  forty  times,  and  been  worth  to  me,  in  cash, 
on  a  modest  calculation,  not  less  than  I350. 

Now,  while  Greensburg  has  ever  been  famous  for  its  fair 
women  and  brave  men;  for  its  legal  lights  and  political  lumina- 
ries; its  military  heroes  and  disciples  of  yEsculapius  eminent 
among  their  fellows  in  the  healing  art,  it  has  not  always  had,  we 
regret  to  say,  a  reputation  equally  extended  and  high  for  the 
practical  exemplification  of  the  cardinal  virtues  and  Christian 
graces,  hi  particular,  the  worshipers  at  the  shrine  of  Bacchus, 
in  Greensburg,  as  in  too  many  other  places,  were  both  too  nu- 
merous and  devoted  for  its  own  weal  at  home  and  its  fair  fame 
abroad.  Of  this  I  had  ocular  demonstration  both  on  the  train  on 
which  I  first  came  to  the  place,  and  on  the  streets  of  the  town 
on  the  evening  of  my  arrival.  Being  quite  familiar  with  my 
manuscripL,  and  not  regarding  myself  as  in  any  sense  a  candi- 
date for  the  vacant  see,  I  took  occasion,  at  suitable  points  in  my 
discourse,  to  animadvert,  with  great  plainness  of  speech,  upon 
what  I  had  seen  and  heard,  and  uttered  a  warning  note  as  to  the 
fatal  consequences  of  paying  continued  tribute  and  allegiance  to 
the  wine  god. 


74 


SUPPLYING  THE  PULPIT. 


After  this  day's  work  I  did  not  suppose  the  people  would 
wish  to  hear  me  again  ;  but,  to  my  surprise,  they  appeared  rather 
to  relish  the  pungency  of  my  discourse,  and  invited  me  to  return 
on  the  following  Sabbath.  Talk  of  a  "call"  soon  began  to  be 
whispered  about,  but,  being  determined  not  to  allow  myself  to 
become  entangled  with  any  church  till  my  course  at  the  Semi- 
nary should  be  completed,  I  dissuaded  the  people  from  taking 
any  such  step  at  the  time.  An  arrangement,  however,  was  ef- 
fected by  which  I  was  to  be  responsible  for  the  supply  of  the 
pulpit  during  the  Seminary  term.  This  contract  I  discharged 
mostly  in  person,  and  by  a  fellow-student  when  I  was  not  pre- 
pared to  preach  myself.  My  visits  to  Greensburg  were  looked 
forward  to  with  constantly  increasing  pleasure,  and  did  much  to 
shorten  the  weeks  and  abbreviate  the  period  of  my  theological 
pupilage. 

THE  CALL    AND  ITS  ACCEPTANCE. 

In  the  early  spring  of  '67  a  cordial  and  unanimous  call  was 
made  out  and  presented  to  me.  And  now  that  my  course  at  the 
Seminary  was  ended,  and  the  time  was  come  for  assuming  the 
responsibilities  of  real  ministerial  life,  my  first  duty  was  to  come 
to  a  decision  as  to  what  disposition  I  should  make  of  the  call 
from  this  church.  It  was  a  serious  business,  and  an  anxious  time. 
I  had  many  misgivings.  The  place  was  one  of  more  than  com- 
mon importance  and  difficulty.  Of  all  posts  ministers  are  called 
to  occupy,  a  county  seat,  for  obvious  reasons,  is  one  of  the  most 
difficult  to  fill;  and  none  more  so  than  Greensburg.  As  a  rule,  a 
much  higher  grade  of  work  is  done  and  required  in  these  pulpits 
than  in  the  average  of  those  of  the  great  cities.  Considering,  then, 
the  exacting  demands  of  the  place,  the  sensitiveness  of  feeling 
growing  out  of  the  war, — which  was,  perhaps,  as  great  in  Greens- 
burg as  anywhere  else  in  the  country, — my  inexperience,  and  the 
conscious  limitation  of  my  qualifications,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  if  I  hesitated  as  to  my  final  decision.  Besides,  the  Presbyterian 
church  had  not  earned  for  itself  a  reputation  for  general  benefi- 
cence, or  for  generosity  in  the  treatment  of  its  ministers.  To 
such  an  extent  had  this  idea  gained  currency  that  personal 
friends,  and  people  with  whom  I  had  but  a  slight  acquaintance, 
earnestly  sought  to  dissuade  me  from  accepting  the  call,  urging 
that  I  would  thereby  be  risking  my  reputation  and  jeopardizing 
my  entire  future.  That  the  place  wovild  be  no  sinecure  I  could 
readily  see;  that  it  might  not  be  altogether  a  bed  of  roses  was 
entirely  possible;  (and  what  pastoral  charge  is?)  but  from  the 
many  very  nice  inclividuals  I  had  already  met  I  refused  to  tliink 
the  people,  as  a  body,  were  as  bad  as  represented.  At  any  rate, 
I  finally  concluded  that,  if  vox  popiili  was  to  be  regarded  as  vox 
Dei,  since  I  had  been  so  unanimously  called;  if,  as  a  minister,  I 
wanted  to  work  for  God  and  fight  satan,  I  might  as  well  do  it  in 
Greensburg  as   anywhere  else.     I    decided,   tlierefore,   to  accept 


75 

the  call.  But  admonished  by  the  experience  of  some  of  my 
predecessors,  my  acceptance  was  coupled  with  certain  specific, 
written  conditions,  which,  through  its  officers  and  representatives, 
I  addressed  to  the  congregation.  A  brief  reference  to  these  con- 
ditions is  needfid  in  order  that  the  subsequent  history  may  be 
more  fully  understood  : 

(i.)  In  common  with  the  custom  of  too  many  other  churches, 
it  was  alleged  that  this  congregation  did  not  keep  faith  with  its 
pastors  ;  that  the  terms  of  its  call  were  treated  merely  as  a  matter 
of  form,  and  especially  that  part  of  the  call  which  reads  thus  : 
"And  that  you  may  be  free  from  worldly  cares  and  avocations, 
we   hereby  promise  and  obliij^e  ourselves  to  pay  to  you  the  sum  of 

in    regular payments,"  according  to  the    periods 

mutually  agreed  uj)on. 

The  contract,  be  it  observed,  is  made,  not  between  the  indi- 
vidual pewholders  or  contributors,  and  the  pastor,  but  between 
the  congregation  as  a  Inniy  being  the  part3^  of  the  first  part,  and 
the  minister  the  party  of  the  second  part.  The  comfort  of  the 
minister,  as  well  as  the  honor  of  religion,  demands  that  congrega- 
tions should  respect  their  own  moral  obligations.  A  feeling  of 
pride,  to  say  nothing  of  moral  duty,  should  exist  in  every  congre- 
gation which  would  impel  it  to  see  that  its  own  engagements 
should  be  kept;  and  that,  whoever  might  be  delinquent,  and  what- 
ever of  cost  or  inconvenience  might  be  entailed  by  individual  de- 
linquency, the  congregation  itself,  and  not  the  minister,  should 
bear  the  burden.  To  awaken  such  feeling  of  pride,  and  to  develop 
such  a  congregational  conscience  in  the  people  here,  was  one  of 
the  aims  of  my  ministry;  and  with  this  in  view  I  made  it  a  condi- 
tion of  my  acceptance  of  their  call,  to  which  the  people,  through 
their  representatives,  acceded,  that  the  salary  promised  should 
be  promptly  paid,  as  per  the  terms  of  the  call. 

(2.)  The  house  of  worship  was  in  an  exceedingly  unattract- 
ive condition.  It  was  sadly  in  need  of  repairs  and  renovation. 
The  frescoing  was  antiquated  in  design,  and  in  many  places  worn 
off;  the  light  by  night  was  only  about  sufficient  to  make  the  dark- 
ness perceptible;  the  carpet  was,  like  Joseph's  coat,  of  many 
pieces  and  colors,  each  pew-holder  indulging  his  own  individual 
fancy  in  this  particular,  the  aisles  alone  being  covered  out  of  the 
common  fund;  the  pews,  unlike  Noah's  ark,  which  was  "pitched 
within  and  without  with  pitch,"  were  painted  only  on  the  outside 
with  paint,  which,  whatever  might  have  been  its  original  color, 
was  now  of  decidedly  doubtful  hue;  the  pulpit  platform,  though 
not  so  altitudinous  as  that  of  its  neighbors  of  the  "Bee  hive," 
was  higher  than  necessary  by  at  least  a  couple  of  feet,  while 
economy  in  timber  was  evidently  not  one  of  the  considerations 
which  determined  the  proportions  of  the  desk  in  front,  which 
seemed  more  like  a  breastwork  for  the  concealment  and  defence 
of  the  preacher  than  a  support  for  the  Book  of  God.  And  the 
basement  was  as  dingy  and  unattractive  as  the  upper  room. 
With  the  view  of  effecting  the  needed  transformation  I  made  it  a 


?6 

condition  of  acceptance  that  the  work  of  renovation  should  be 
done  before  my  installation — a  condition  which,  I  am  bound  to 
say,  was  reluctantly  yielded  to,  but  which  7vas  agreed  to  all  the 
same. 

(3.)  A  third  condition,  whether  written  or  not  I  am  not  cer- 
tain, was,  that  I  be  allowed  to  repeat,  once  a  Sabbath,  one  of  tlie 
sermons  I  had  already,  during  the  winter,  delivered,  as  I  did  not 
feel  equal,  then,  to  preparing  two  such  sermons  a  week  as  I 
cared  to  preach,  and  the  "barrel,"  not  very  full  to  begin  with, 
was  now  wholly  empty. 

ON    THE    FIELD. 

These  preliminaries  being  arranged,  I  came  at  once  upon  the 
ground  and  began  work. 

Rightly  presuming  upon  the  collapsed  condition  of  a  pocket- 
book,  at  no  time  unduly  inflated,  as  is  the  financial  condition  of 
the  average  "theologien,"  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  thought- 
fully and  kindlv  anticipating  my  necessities,  provided  me  with  a 
complete  outfit  of  study  fin-nitui-e. 

PASTORAL    DIPLOMACY. 

Twenty  years  ago  there  were  no  halls  or  places  of  public 
assembly  in  Greensburg  other  than  the  Court  House  and  the 
churches.  Owing  to  this  lack,  on  my  coming  to  take  formal 
charge  as  pastor,  I  found  the  ladies  in  a  great  state  of  perplexity 
about  a  place  in  which  to  hold  a  strawberry  festival,  the  first  en- 
terprise of  the  kind  they  had  ever  undertaken.  By  reason  of 
certain  objectionable  practices  which  had  become  identified  with 
this  species  of  entertainment,  a  strong  prejudice  against  holding 
them  in  church  quarters  was  honestly  formed  by  many  good  peo- 
ple— practices,  we  are  bound  to  say,  more  honored  in  the  breach 
than  in  the  observance,  whether  carried  on  in  sacred  courts  or 
profane  places.  Among  those  here  who  had  conceived  such 
prejudice  was  Miss  Margaret  Coulter,  familiarly  and  affection- 
ately known  as  "Miss  Peggy."  This  lady's  views,  by  reason  of 
her  family  connection,  her  own  personal  worth,  her  great  age — 
being  then  four-score  and  two  years  old — and  her  long  and  lively 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  church,  were  treated  with  more  than 
ordinary  consideration;  and  even  what,  in  these  irreverent  days, 
would  be  called  her  "cranky"  notions,  were  respected  by  all. 
Always  somewhat  eccentric  and  singular,  her  peculiarities  became 
more  and  more  marked  as  she  advanced  in  years,  as  is  the  case 
with  most  old  people.  There  were  no  half-way  measures  about 
Miss  Peggy  in  anything;  she  was  very  decided.  Her  likes  and 
dislikes  were  equally  strong.  She  had  for  many  years  taught  a 
class  of  young  men  in  the  Sabbath  school,  and  to  this  fact  she 
often  referred,  pointing  with  just  pride  to  some  of  her  boys,  and 
especially  to  the  Rev.  B.  L.  Agnew — "My  Benny,"  as  she  fondly 
called  him — who  had  just  recently  been  ordained  to  the  ministry 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Johnstown,  Pa.     She  loved 


77 

to  repeat  some  of  the  lectures  on  Job  and  the  Prophets  she  used 
to  deliver  to  them.  Being  new  to  me,  I  listened  with  great  pleas- 
ure and  profit  to  them  for  quite  a  number  of  times;  but  they  be- 
gan to  lose  their  freshness  after  awhile.  Still,  each  time  I  paid 
her  a  visit  I  listened  with  the  respect  and  patience  due  to  age 
and  character.  "Miss  Peggy"  and  "old  Mrs.  Mary  Foster" — as 
we  used  to  call  that  sainted  woman  of  blessed,  revered  memory, 
who,  like  Anna,  the  prophetess,  was  of  a  great  age,  and  had  lived 

with   an  husband years  from  her  virginity,  and  she  a  widow 

of years,  though  unable  to  attend  the  services  of  the  sanc- 
tuary, served  God  with  fastings  and  prayer  niglit  and  day,  speak- 
ing of  Jesus  to  all  who  came  within  the  precincts  of  her  home — 
were  great  Bible  students.  In  their  last  days  the  Book  was  their 
constant  companion.  The  Bible,  indeed,  was  their  newspaper. 
They  beat  the  most  enterprising  journals  of  the  day.  With  the  aid 
of  Scott  and  Henry — their  favorite  commentators — they,  by 
means  of  the  prophecies,  sought  to  penetrate  the  future,  and  to 
discover  the  great  events  in  the  world's  history  before  they  took 
place.  "Miss  Peggy"  found  in  Job  the  railroad  and  the  locomo- 
tive, or  iron  horse,  and  the  telegraph  in  Ezekiel.  Mrs.  Foster 
inquired  at  these  lively  oracles  as  to  the  issues  of  the  Russo- 
Turkish  and  Franco-German  wars,  and  found  the  predictions 
fulfilled  as  the  events  transpired. 

Now,  information  had  reached  "Miss  Peggy's"  ears  that  the 
ladies  were  going  to  hold  their  proposed  festival  in  church  quar- 
ters. This  awakened  all  her  prejudices  and  aroused  her  into  vio- 
lent opposition.  Considering  her  well-known  antagonism  to  the 
project,  she  felt  that  she  should  at  least  have  been  consulted 
about  the  matter.  This  was  made  apparent  to  me  on  my  first 
interview  with  "Miss  Peggy."  The  ladies  did  not  wish  to  go 
counter  to  her  views,  but  there  was  no  alternative.  It  was  the 
church  or  nowhere.  Thev  believed  "Miss  Peggy"  to  be  immova- 
ble, and  they  did  not  wish  me,  at  the  outset  of  my  work,  to  be 
brought  into  collision  with  so  potential  a  person.  There  was  a 
dead-lock  in  the  afifaii'.  My  resoluticm  was  then  taken.  Without 
saying  anything  about  it  I  paid  "Miss  Peggy"  a  visit,  and,  believ- 
ing that  I  understood  the  situation  pretty  well,  hoped  to  succeed 
in  removing  her  objections  and  gaining  her  consent  to  the  use  of 
the  lecture  room  for  the  festival;  but,  if  not,  to  bring  matters  to 
an  issue  somehow.  I  found  the  lady  in  her  accustomed  seat,  lis- 
tened for  over  an  hour  to  her  lectures  on  Job  and  other  matters, 
(none  of  which  were  entirely  new  to  me)  and  then  ventured  to 
introduce  the  exciting  topic  of  the  festival.  "The  ladies  have  not 
succeeded  in  getting  a  place  for  their  festival  as  yet;"  I  remarked. 
"No;  where  are  they  going  to  have  it?"  and,  continuing,  with  eyes 
flashing  and  hands  uplifted,  as  if  in  horror  at  the  very  idea,  she 
partially  answered  her  own  question,  as  she  exclaimed,  "Any- 
where but  the  church!  Anywhere  but  the  church!"  With  this 
violent  manifestation  of  her  sentiments  there  seemed  to  be  but 
little  hope  of   reaching   any   accommodation    (ni   the  vexed  ques- 


78 

tion.  A  little  disconcerted  at  first  by  this  rather  unexpected  ex- 
plosion, I  soon  got  myself  together  again  and  assumed  the  de- 
fensive. I  said,  substantially,  "that  I  had  come  to  talk  over  the 
matter  with  her  and  to  assure  her  of  the  regret  it  caused  the 
ladies  to  even  seem  to  go  in  opposition  to  her  wishes  and  known 
views;  that  personally,  when  free  from  all  questionable  practices, 
I  had  no  objection  to  a  festival  such  as  the  ladies  proposed  in 
the  church,  and  that  I  did  not  believe  Mr.  Agnew  (Rev.)  had, 
and  that  I  felt  confident,  when  these  matters  were  fully  made 
known  to  her,  that  she  would  waive  her  prejudices,  and  give  her 
consent  and  approval  to  the  use  of  the  church."  Magic  never 
wrought  a  greater  change — a  more  complete  revolution.  With 
the  utmost  possible  blandness  of  manner,  with  tone  and  gesture 
indicative  of  the  greatest  cordiality,  she  said:  "Why,  certainly, 
Mr.  Gill,  certainly!"  and,  charging  me  to  convey  to  the  ladies  her 
best  wishes  for  their  success,  placed  her  house  and  conservatory 
at  their  disposal,  and  promised  to  contribute  in  any  way  possible 
to  insure  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  the  entertainment.  Nor  was 
this  all.  She  accompanied  me  to  the  festival  itself,  and  though 
she  saw  there  some  persons  for  whom  she  had  conceived  a  violent 
dislike,  she  declared  that  everything  was  beautiful,  and  reminded 
her  of  Heaven  itself;  and,  after  we  had  taken  it  all  in,  and  she, 
becoming  exhausted,  had  aided  materially  in  swelling  the  profits 
of  the  occasion,  we  withdrew;  and  having  escorted  her  to  her 
home  again  she  thanked  me  with  all  the  enthusiasm  of  earlier 
years  for  the  great  pleasure  she  had  that  evening  enjoyed.  "Miss 
Peggy"  and  I  remained  steadfast  friends  till  the  hour  of  her 
death,  which  took  place  a  year  and  a-half  afterwards. 

The  ladies  were  clisposed  to  be  incredulous  when  I  made  known 
to  them  the  result  of  my  interview;  but  upon  being  reassured, 
were  of  course  delighted  at  the  wholly  unexpected  and  favorable 
turn  the  affair  had  taken.  This  was  my  earliest  experience  in 
pastoral  diplomacy. 

REPAIRING    THE    CHURCH. 

My  next  rencounter  was  with  the  officials  of  the  church, 
growing  out  of  the  evident  indisposition  to  carry  out  that  condi- 
tion of  my  acceptance  of  the  call  relative  to  the  improvement  and 
renovation  of  the  "meeting  house"  itself.  At  the  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  at  which  arrangements  were  made  for  my  ordination 
and  installation,  the  time  was  fixed  sufficiently  far  in  the  future 
to  allow  of  the  contemplated  improvements  being  made,  and  1 
had  positively  declared  that  I  would  not  be  installed  in  the  build- 
ing in  the  condition  in  which  it  then  was.  Weeks  passed,  but  no 
movement  was  made.  A  masterly  inactivity  was  maintained. 
The  time  at  last  came  when,  unless  the  work  was  at  once  begun, 
it  could  by  no  possibility  be  completed  in  time  for  Presbytery.  I 
so  informed  some  of  the  proper  officials,  and  stated,  furthermore, 
my  unalterable  purpose  not  to  be  installed  as  pastor  unless  they 
did  as  they  had  promised.     That  settled  it.     That  same  day  active 


79 

operations  were  begun;  and,  although,  owing  to  inevitable  delays, 
when,  on  the  26th  of  June,  '67,  the  Presbytery  met  for  my  ordi- 
nation and  installation,  the  imjjrovements  were  not  finished,  they 
were  at  least  sufficiently  far  advanced  to  insure  their  completion, 
and  so,  to  make  the  way  clear  to  allow  the  ceremonies  attending 
the  constitution  of  tlae  pastoral  relation  to  proceed. 

OKDINAIION    AND    INSTALLATION. 

The  Presbyterv  met  in  the  basement  of  the  church,  and 
tliere,  too,  the  ordination  and  installation  took  place,  the  improve- 
ments going  on  in  the  auditorium  rendering  its  occupation  im- 
possible. In  these  services  Rev.  S.  J.  Nicols,  D  D.,  of  St.  Louis, 
by  invitation,  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  Jos.  R.  Hughes  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  David  Harbison  to  the  people. 
The  occasion  was  one  of  great  solemnity,  and  this  event,  together 
with  another  of  hardly  less  moment  and  interest  to  me  (to  be  re- 
ferred to  further  on),  gave  a  sort  of  sacredness  to  the  old  and 
homel}'  structure  in  my  eyes,  that  this  new  and  handsome  house 
of  worship  can  never  possess. 

PAVINC;    FOR    THE    REPAIRS. 

The  curators  of  the  building  kindly  placed  the  Coiul  House 
at  the  service  of  the  ct)ngregation  for  Sabbath  worship  during 
the  progress  of  the  improvements  on  our  house  of  worship. 
These  improvements  were  made  at  a  cost  of  about  $800,  and  were 
undertaken  mostly  on  faith.  When,  however,  the  aggregate 
amount  was  known,  a  statement  was  made  to  the  people  one 
Sabbath  morning,  a  subscription  was  opened,  and,  in  a  short 
time  (not  at  that  service),  the  whole  sum  was  provided  for,  and 
most  of  the  bills  paid  by  the  time  the  building  was  ready  for  re- 
occupation.  The  people  may  be  relied  upon  all  the  time.  To 
whatever  is  right  and  reasonable^  as  a  rule,  under  wise  leadership, 
they  will  be  found  ready  to  respond.  Twenty  years  of  experi- 
ence, during  which  I  have  had  frequent  occasion  to  test  the  mat- 
ter, justifies  this  declaration,  and  very  gladlv  do  I  bear  this  testi- 
mony to  the  people's  Christian  liberality. 

RE-0PKNIN(;    THE    CHURCH. 

Re-frescoed,  re])ainted,  re-carpeted,  re-lighted,  the  pul|)it  plat- 
form lowered  and  otherwise  reduced  in  dimensions,  and  a  modern 
adjustable  desk  substituted  for  the  original  breastworks,  to  the 
great  delight  of  the  people  the  church  was  re-opened  for  ])ublic 
worship  on  Sabbath,  August  4th,  '67.  The  transformation,  S(j 
great  and  so  pleasing,  was  satisfactory  to  all,  and  the  only  W(jn- 
der  was  that  the  improvements  had  not  been  made  long  before. 
A  very  large  congregation  was  present  at  the  re-opening  services, 
in  which  the  pastor  was  assisted  by  Dr.  Smith,  his  venerable 
predecessor. 


8o 


TABLES    A1U)LISHED. 


On  my  becoming  pastor,  the  old  system  of  ''tables"  was  still 
in  vogue  at  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  By  long  usage 
the  accidental  assumes,  in  the  minds  of  even  good  people,  the 
importance  of  the  essentials  in  religious  rites,  and  by  them  re- 
garded as  necessary  to  their  proper  observance  and  administra- 
tion. A  false  conservatism  would  cling  to  these  forms  long  after 
they  have  ceased  to  be  significant.  Traditionalism  is  a  weakness 
of  poor  human  nature  and  must  be  looked  upon  with  leniency  by 
those  who  are  more  spiritual  and  stronger  in  the  faith.  When 
the  change  to  the  modern  method  was  proposed,  it  was  looked 
upon  with  grave  suspicion  as  a  dangerous  innovation,  on  the  part 
of  some,  which  might  lead  to  serious  consequences;  while  a  few 
were  unwilling  to  abandon  a  custom  a  lifetime  had  rendered 
sacred.  The  majority  of  the  people,  I  knew,  was  ripe  for  the 
change,  and  so  a  compromise  was  lighted  upon.  There  would  be 
but  one  table  spread  across  the  front  of  the  church.  All  com- 
municants preferring  to  sit  at  the  table  could  do  so,  and  all  who 
felt  otherwise  disposed  were  at  liberty  to  remain  in  their  pews, 
where  they  would  be  served  with  the  elements.  Only  a  few  per- 
sons, for  a  short  time,  came  to  the  table,  and  after  a  while  they 
became  wholly  (obsolete — fell  into  an  "innocuous  dissuetude." 

(JKNKRAL    PROSPERITY. 

Meanwhile  the  attendance  on  the  services  in  the  sanctuary 
had  been  steadily  growing.  Every  pew,  including  the  few  addi- 
tional ones  the  reduction  of  the  dimensions  of  the  pulpit  and 
other  changes  made  possible,  was  occupied,  and  many  persons, 
even  then,  could  not  be  accommodated  with  sittings. 

The  Sabbath  school,  too,  had  greatly  increased  in  numbers 
and  interest.  Unlike  many  superintendents,  who  resent  any  in- 
terference or  suggestion  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  (who  is,  cx-officio, 
the  superintendent,  and  the  official  to  whom  that  title  is  com- 
monly accorded  should  only  be  assistani  or  e'^V^-supeiintendent) 
as  an  invasion  of  his  prerogatives,  Mr.  Will  Brown — between  whoni 
and  myself  an  attachment  and  friendship  grew  up,  the  strength 
of  which  neither  the  lapse  of  years,  nor  separation  in  space,  has 
in  the  least  diminished — not  only  did  not  oppose  himself,  but, 
opening  the  way,  cordially  co-operated  with  the  pastor  in  making 
such  changes,  looking  towards  the  greater  efficiency  of  the  work, 
as  his  somewhat  extended  experience  in  Sabbath  sciiools  war- 
ranted him  in  suggesting. 

As  already  intimated,  the  basement,  never  a  very  cheerful 
place,  was  now  dingy,  dark,  and  much  in  need  of  repairs  and 
renovation.  More  space  was  needed,  too,  for  the  increasing  at- 
tendance. The  primary  class  had  no  room  of  its  own,  its  ses- 
sions being  held  in  the.  church.  Tliere  was  no  Bible  class  room 
either,  (nor  any  Bible  class)  or  other  separate  apartment,  the  en- 
tire habitable  portion   of  the  lower  story  being  included  in  the 


8i 

one  large  room.  It  vv.os  resolved,  therefore,  to  reclaim  from  its 
comparatively  waste  condition  so  much  of  the  remaining  portion 
^ of  the  basement  as  was  not  absolutely  needed  for  storage  pur- 
poses, and  tit  it  up  for  these  higher  uses.  This  was  done.  The 
reclaimed  space  was  divided  into  two  rooms,  the  one  on  the  north 
side  being  assigned  to  the  primary  class,  and  that  on  the  opposite  , 
or  south  side,  to  the  I^ible  class,  which  was  then  organized  and 
taught  by  the  pastor  himself. 

The  cost  incurred  by  these  much-needed  improvements, 
which  was  in  the  neighborhood  of,  as  I  remember,  $300,  through 
the  active  agency  of  the  ladies,  who  are  ever  in  the  van  of  every 
good  work,  and  to  whose  vigorous  efforts  the  success  of  mcjst 
churches  is  due,  was  speedily  met;  and  again,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
audience-room  improvements,  everybody  was  equally  surprised 
and  delighted. 

THIi    I'KAVKR-MEETINc;. 

As  in  most  churches,  the  prayer-meeting,  so  called — sparc- 
meeting  it  should  be,  with  more  propriety,  named,  composed,  as 
it  is  generally,  of  a  good  many  women  and  a  very  few  men — a 
reflex  in  this  respect,  however,  of  the  roll  of  communicants — was 
the  weak  point  in  our  spiritual  organism.  In  many  cases  the 
prayer-meeting  has  only  a  name  to  live  when  it  is  in  reality  dead; 
and,  like  every  other  defunct  thing,  had  better  be  buried  than  to 
continue  on  top  of  ground  polluting  the  atmosphere  with  its 
poisonous  exhalations.  If,  as  is  often  said,  the  prayer-meeting 
be  the  thermomeiric  indicator  of  the  spiritual  temperature  in  the 
church,  then  a  perpetual  blizzard  must  be  blowing  in  the  King- 
dom of  God  ;  for  the  spiritual  mercury  persists  in  standing  un- 
comfortably close  to  zero  in  these  meetings  for  social  worship. 
If  the  prayer-meeting  is  to  continue  to  exist,  it  needs  revolution. 
If  I  be  asked  what  changes  I  would  suggest,  I  reply,  let  it  be 
anything  but  what  it  was  here  in  my  day,  and  what  I  believe  it 
still  is  in  the  churches  generally. 

VK.^L  VERSUS  BEEK. 

Attention  is  frequently  called  in  these  days  to  preference  on 
the  part  of  congregations  for  young  ministers — "students,"  as 
they  are  called;  mere  theological  fledglings;  men  who  are,  and, 
in  the  very  nature  of  things,  can  only  be,  the  veriest  tyros  in  the 
art  of  spiritual  pathology,  novitiates — empirics  in  the  cure  of 
souls — ^over  men  of  riper -years,  and  richer  both  in  Christian  and 
pastoral  experience.  Dc  f^ustih/s  iioii  dispiitandinn — there  is  no 
accounting  for  tastes — runs  the  old  Latin  adage;  and  as  some  peo- 
ple prefer  veal  to  beef,  and  since  there  is  always  an  abimdance  of 
veal  to  supply  the  demand,  it  is  only  reasonable  and  right  that 
they  should  be  allowed  an  ungrudging  indidgence  in  the  grati- 
fication of  their  peculiar  appetite.  And  so,  if  congregations  pre- 
fer theological  veal — the  immatureness,  the  oftentimes  crude, 
undigested   and    indigestable.    didactic,    doctrinal,    abstract    and 


82 

speculative  effusions  of  the  youthful  and  inexperienced  minister — 
to  the  more  solid,  yet  more  easily  digested  and  nutritious  spirit- 
ual pabulum,  which  only  age  and  experience  can  furnish,  we, 
who  are  older,  if  not  better,  have  no  right  to  complain.  We  have 
had  our  turn^  and  it  is  cause  for  thankfulness,  rather,  that  there 
are  always  congregations  ready  to  ofTer  themselves  as  sacrifices 
to,  or  to  become  the  victims  of,  the  ministerial  novitiate. 

Without  staying  to  seek  for  an  explanation  of,  or  to  philos- 
ophize at  all  about  this  peculiar  phenomenon,  I  pause  only  long 
enough  to  commiserate  tlie  people,  and  to  express  my  deep 
sense  of  gratitude  to  the  good  folk  of  this  congregation  who 
so  patiently  endured  those  characteristic  initial  efforts  of  my 
ministerial  life. 

EARLY   EFFORTS. 

Whether  with  that  "special  prudence  and  care"  which  the 
confession  enjoins  in  the  handling  of  such  "high  mystery,"  may 
very  well  be  doubted;  nevertheless,  I  did  not  hesitate,  with  a  fre- 
quency which,  as  I  now  recall  it,  appalls  me,  to  discourse  upon 
"Predestination,"  "Election,"  "God's  Sovereignty,"  "Repr(jba- 
tion,"  "Human  Inability,"  and  kindred  theological  topics;  while 
the  "terrors  of  the  law"  were  presented,  it  is  to  be  feared,  with 
less  tenderness  than  courage — less  love  than  faithfulness — under 
such  titles  as  "Warnings  Neglected,"  "The  Sin  and  Doom  of  Unbe- 
lief," "Turn  or  Burn,"  "The  Broad  Road  and  Where  it  Leads  to," 
"The  Sin  and  Doom  of  the  Loveless."  While  I  sought  always  to 
have  "blood  in  the  basin,"  and  to  keep  the  Cross  prominently  in 
view,  most  of  my  early  efforts  had  about  them  the  smell  of  brim- 
stone— a  circumstance  which  led  many  to  refer  to  me  as  a  "hell- 
fire  preacher." 

A  TRYING  EXPERIENCE. 

While  I  have  never  heard  that  these  ambitious  flights  of 
mine  "set  the  world  on  fire,"  they,  nevertheless,  came  near  prov- 
ing as  disastrous  to  myself  as  the  bold  attempt  of  the  fabled 
Phaeton  to  guide  the  flame-breathing  steeds  of  his  father's 
chariot,  did  to  him,  or  as  did  the  rashness  of  the  seamen  on  Paul's 
celebrated  voyage  to  the  ship's,  company.  On  one  occasion  I  set 
out  to  reconcile  God's  sovereignty  with  human  agency,  and  for 
that  purpose  chose  for  my  text  the  words  of  Paul  "to  the  Cen- 
turian  and  to  the  Soldiers"  concerning  the  conduct  of  the 
affrighted  and  cowardly  seamen.  Acts  27  .-31 — ^'Except  these  abide 
in  the  ship,  ye  cannot  be  saved r  With  that  rash  confidence  charac- 
teristic of  youthful  audacity,  "when  the  south  wind  blew  softly," 
"supposing  I  had  gained  my  purpose,"  I  launched  out  boldly 
upon  my  theme.  I  had  not  gone  far,  however,  when  a  very 
Euroclydon— a  tempestuous  wind  of  fear — swept  down  upon  me, 
a  dense  darkness  of  doubt  shut  out  the  sunlight  from  my  intel- 
lectual hearers,  and,  seeing  neither  sun  nor  stars  for  a  long  while, 
I  wholly  lost  my  reckoning,  and  being  driven  up  and  down  in  the 
Adria  of  mental  confusion,  all   hope  of  making  any  sort  of  land- 


83 

ing  was  taken  away;  for,  instead  of  nearing  any  shore,  hospitable 
or  otherwise,  the  soundings,  instead  of  indicating  shallower  water 
showed  conclusively  that  I  was  constantly  being  carried  farther 
out  to  sea;  when,  utterly  beyond  my  depth,  being  caught,  and 
being  unable  "to  bear  up  with  the  wind,  we  let  her  drive T  My 
audience  must,  bv  this  time,  have  become  thoroughly  alarmed, 
and,  like  Paul's  seamen,  have  longed  for  a  colorable  excuse  to 
Hee  out  of  the  ship,  and  would  dcnibtless  have  done  so  had  I  not 
recovered  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to  cry  out  to  them  with 
great  vehemence,  "Except  ye  abide  in  the  ship,  ye  cannot  be 
saved!"  By  and  by  the  wind  ceased,  the  skies  cleared,  confidence 
became  partially  restored,  "and  so  it  came  to  pass  that  we  escaped 
all  safe  to  land,"  the  chief  loss  being  sustained  by  myself  as  a  safe 
and  successful  navigator  in  dangerous  theological  seas. 

EFFECTS  OF  THEOLOGICAL  PREACHING. 

The  effect  of  these  didactic  and  doctrinal  discourses  was,  as 
might  be  expected,  diverse.  Some  were  pleased;  but  the  most 
part,  I  expect,  were  not.  Some  were  edified,  some  were  not.  One  pos- 
itive effect  I  know  they  had — they  roused  up  all  the  enmity  of 
the  natural  heart  against  God,  causing  some  of  the  unregenerate, 
at  the  time,  at  least,  to  harden  themselves  against  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  ^nd  to  pretend  to  find  in  these  doctrines  an  excuse  for 
whatevit  fatal  consequences  might  ensue  from  their  impenitency. 
Self  justification  !  Whatever  other  use  the  Holy  Spirit  may  have 
made  of  these  discourses,  I  am  not  aware  that  they  were  used  by 
Him  in  the  awakening  or  conversion  of  a  single  soul. 

THE   "odium  THEOLOGICUM." 

It  may  be  that  the  distinctive  doctrines  of  the  Calvanistic 
system  are  not  now  sufficiently  dwelt  upon  in  the  pulpit;  and 
this  may  account  for  the  comparative  shallowness  of  much  of  the 
religious  or  Christian  life  of  the  day;  the  plow  of  the  law  may 
not  be  used  enough;  Moses,  as  schoolmaster,  is  perhaps  not 
abroad  in  the  land  as  much  as  he  should  be,  and  we  may  be 
"daubing  with  untempered  mortar,"  and  crying,  "Peace!  peace! 
when  there  is  no  peace  !"  However  this  may  be,  I  resolved  years 
ago,  and  have  steadfastly  adhered  to  my  purpose,  not  to  be  again 
guilty  of  the  unwisdom  and  folly  of  presenting  to  my  people  the 
dry  bones  of  theology  in  lieu  of  a  warm  Gospel  and  a  Living 
Christ.  At  no  previous  period  has  the  "odium  theologicum"  been 
greater  or  more  offensive  to  the  popular  mind  than  at  the  present 
day.  Dogmatic  religion;  ti^eatises  an  hour  long  on  foreordination, 
are  like  so  much  chloroform.     There  is  no  demand  for  them. 

SERMONIC  CREMATION. 

Some  years  ago,  on  looking  over  the  contents  of  the 
ministerial  "barrel,"  which  I  long  since  ceased  to  use,  I 
selected  from  among  these  early  didactic  and  polemic  theo- 
logical    dissertations — misnamed      sermons — a     large     number 


which  I  built  into  a  pyre,  to  which,  without  regret, 
I  applied  the  match,  and  watched  the  burning  with  sonre- 
what  of  that  satisfaction  with  which  the  torturers  in  other 
times  must  have  looked  vipon  the  flames  which  consumed  their 
helpless  victims.  They  burnt  well;  and  no  wonder;  for,  like  the 
bones  in  the  vision,  they  were  very  dry — mostly  bones! 

REPEATING  SERMONS. 

At  first,  as  was  expected,  I  repeated  each  Sabbath  one  of  my 
"old  sermons"  which  had  been  delivered  during  the  previous 
winter.  These,  however,  were  not  of  the  kind  referred  to  above. 
Some  were  repeated  more  than  once,  during  my  pastorate,  with- 
out the  least  attempt  at  disguise,  and  in  no  single  instance,  so 
far  as  I  know,  with  other  than  happy  effect.  One  sermon,  (my 
Presbyterial)  marked  No.  3,  was  delivered  four  times  in  less  than 
as  many  years  in  Greensburg — three  times  in  the  Presbyterian, 
and  once  in  the  Lutheran,  pulpit.  After  having  heard  it  to  my 
certain  knowledge  for  the  fourth  time,  a  gentleman  who  heard 
nearly  every  sermon  I  preached  in  the  town,  and  one  of  my  most 
appreciative  hearers,  too,  said  to  me,  "That's  the  best  sermon  you 
ever  preached  !" 

'squire  laird. 

The  person  who  made  this  remark  was  the  late  John  M. 
Laird,  Esq.  This  gentleman  I  always  reckoned  among  the 
earliest,  warmest  and  most  steadfast  friends  of  my  ministerial 
life — an  individual  as  stalwart  and  angular  in  mind  as  he  was  in 
body;  who,  under  a  somewhat  rude  exterior,  carried  a  heart 
tender  as  a  woman's,  and  as  large  as  the  mould  in  which  his 
physical  frame  was  cast.  In  politics  I  will  not  be  answerable  for 
his  sentiments,  utterances,  or  acts;  but  in  religion,  with  such 
shortcomings  and  imperfections  as  are  common  to  us  all,  I  be- 
lieve him  to  have  been  a  Christian,  sincere  and  earnest,  with  a 
deep  personal  love  for  the  Savior;  and,  loyal  to  the  faith  of  his 
father,  devotedly  attached  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  both  in 
doctrine,  polity  and  history.  If  he  were  not  himself  a  prophet  he 
was  at  least  the  son  of  a  prophet;  and,  in  all  that  concerned  the 
local  church  and  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  universal,  he  never 
ceased  to  take  a  lively  interest.  His  acquaintance  with  our  eccle- 
siastical history  and  the  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian,  as  well  as 
of  other  denominations,  being  unusually  extended,  rendered  him 
not  only  an  engaging,  but  an  always  profitable  conversationalist. 
He  was  the  one  man  who  used  to  pay  me  frequent  visits,  bring- 
ing with  him  often  articles  from  his  numerous  "exchanges"  which 
he  thought  would  interest  me,  and  often  cheered  and  encouraged 
me  in  some  of  my  gloomy  and  desponding  hours.  It  was  during 
these  interviews,  when  he  opened  up  his  heart  to  me,  that  I  got 
to  know,  and,  in  knowing,  to  love  and  confide  in  the  man. 
Right  or  wrong,  one  can  scarcely  fail  to  admire  the  man  who,  on 
any  subject,  having  convictions,  had  also  the  courage  to  express 


85 

and  defend  tliem.'  He  was  not,  any  more  than  the  rugged 
preacher  of  the  Jordan  V^allev,  "a  reed  shaken  by  the  wind."  He 
was  not  a  man  of  willow  but  of  oak;  or,  for  his  rugged  strength 
of  character,  a  very  cedar  of  Lebancm  itself:  and,  as  hard  woods 
take  the  finest  polish,  by  the  refinements  of  grace  the  character 
of  'Squire  Laird  will  not  fail  to  shine  with  a  rare  brilliancy  of 
lustre  among  the  saints  of  Christ  in  the  kingdom  of  His  glory. 
But  Doctor  Moorhead,  in  his  glowing  memorial  tribute,  has  done 
such  ample  justice  to  this  famous  Greensburger  in  the  delinea- 
tion of  his  various  traits  of  character,  that  I  do  not  here  and  now 
deem  it  necessary  to  say  more,  though  my  personal  relations  with 
mv  friend  were  such  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  say  less. 

I'-.X  TEM  PORK   l'RF,.\CHIN( ;. 

To  return,  now,  to  the  preaching:  My  sermons,  at  first,  were 
all  written  out  in  full  and  delivered  from  manuscript — a  practice 
which  I  long  since  abandoned,  except,  in  rare  cases,  when  the 
discourse  is  prepared  for  the  press.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  '67,  at 
my  service  (not  sermon)  numbered  124,  I,  for  the  first  time,  ven- 
tured to  dispense  with  either  manuscript  or  notes  of  any  kind, 
and  attempt  what  is  miscalled  extemporaneous  address.  As  a 
precautionary  measure,  however,  instead  of  confining  myself  to 
a  single  text,  I  selected  a  whole  section  of  Scripture  for  the  pur- 
pose of  exposition,  so  that,  like  the  Apostles,  when  persecuted  in 
one  verse,  I  could  flee  to  the  next.  F"rom  my  register  I  discover 
that  I  "got  along  pretty  well"  on  that  occasion;  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath,  at  Radebaugh's  school  house,  I  ventured  to  re- 
strict my  remarks  to  a  single  text,  without  catastrophe.  How 
very  near  being  overtaken  with  disaster  on  more  than  one  such 
occasion,  however,  no  one  but  myself,  at  the  time,  as  I  afterwards 
learned,  was  aware.  I  remember  suffering  from  something  like 
stage  fright,  "losing  the  thread  of  mv  discourse,"  and  standing 
before  the  people  with  my  mind  a  perfect  blank.  The  perspira- 
tion would  start  from  every  pore.  To  stop  talking  would  be 
fatal.  To  keep  on  talking  without  having  anything  to  say  was 
calculated  to  make  one  feel,  as  well  as  appear,  ridiculous.  Yet 
this  is  precisely  what  I  have  had  to  do,  until,  in  a  few  moments, 
which  seemed  months,  I  recovered  myself  and  got  on  the  track 
again,  and  somehow  managed  to  "get  there." 

SK.RMON  NO.  37. 

During  my  pastorate  here,  the  extemporaneous  effort  contin- 
ued to  alternate  with  the  manuscript  sermon  with  more  or  less 
frequencv.  Of  the  two  styles  of  preaching  the  extempore  dis- 
course was,  as  a  rule,  much  more  pointed,  pungent  and  ad  liomi- 
iicni  than  the  written  sermon.  On  this  account,  some  people  who 
wanted  to  dwell  "at  ease  in  Zion"  did  not  like  that  style  of  pulpit 
work,  and  wished  I  would  write  all  my  sermons.  To  this,  how- 
ever, there  was  a  notable  exception  to  which  I  will  now  refer. 


86 

The  sermon  was  No  37,  the  time  November,  in  '67,  the  sub- 
ject, "The  Duty  and  Blessedness  of  Christian  Beneficence,"  and 
tiie  occasion  a  collection  for  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  on  the 
Sabbath  preceding;.  The  amount  contributed  on  this  occasion 
was,  for  this  people,  small  and  inadequate.  It  seemed  to  me  to 
be  necessarv  to  stir  up  their  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance 
on  this  great  subject.  The  sermon  cost  me  much  prayerful 
study.  In  it  the  record  of  the  church,  for  a  number  of  years,  in 
the  war  of  contributions  to  the  various  boards,  was  plainly  set 
forth,  exhibiting-  the  aggregate  and  average  individual  amounts 
during  a  given  period.  The  showing  was  not  whollv  creditable 
to  a  congregation  of  the  wealth  and  prominence  of  that  of  Greens- 
burg.  I  confess  that  it  was  not  without  some  fear  and  trembling 
that  I  looked  forward  to  the  deliverv  of  this  discourse.  I  read  it 
to  'Squire  Laird  on  one  of  his  visits,  I  remember;  but  he  declined 
to  express  an  opinion  as  to  the  wisdom  of  preaching  it.  After 
much  more  praverful  consideration  I  concluded  that,  bitter 
tlu)ugh  the  dose  might  be.  it  was  needed,  and  I  resolved  to  ad- 
minister it  on  the  following  Sabbath.  The  day  proved  to  be  a 
beautiful  one.  It  was  court  week,  and  there  was  an  unusually 
large  audience  present,  and  among  the  number  two  of  my  prede- 
cessors in  the  pastorate  here.  My  heart  almost  failed  me.  I 
wished  I  had  some  other  sermon,  as  I  had  no  desire,  unnecessarily, 
to  advertise  the  delinquencies  of  my  people.  But  as  I  was  neither 
responsible  for  the  weather  nor  for  the  audience.  I  concluded  it 
would  be  moral  cowardice  in  me  not  to  proceed.  I  went  forward. 
The  shoe  evidentlv  pinched.  There  were  not  wanting  signs  of 
restlessness  and  impatience  during  the  delivery  of  the  discourse, 
and  a  good  deal  of  criticism,  favorable  and  adverse,  was  indulged 
in  afterwards — mostl)'  adverse.  "Preach  another  such  sermon  as 
that."  said  W.  D.  Mt)ore,  Esq..  "and  vou  will  have  to  leave  Greens- 
burg.  It  was  true — true,  every  word  of  it;  but  the  people  won't 
stand  it,  and  I  think  I  know  their  temper  pretty  well!"  In  the 
preparation  of  this  histor\-  I  glanced  through  the  manuscript  of 
that  sermon,  (I  would  have  consigned  it  to  the  flames  with  the 
others  referred  to,  only  I  want  to  preserve  it  as  a  specimen  of 
vouthful  ministerial  "freshness")  and  as  I  read  some  of  its  more 
pointed  paragraphs  I  felt  the  blood  begin  to  mount,  the  flesh  to 
creep,  and  everv  several  hair  evince  a  disposition  to  stand  on  end. 
I  was  amazed  at  my  own  temerity.  I  still  believe  in,  and  prac- 
tice, great  "plainness  of  speech."  but  I  do  not  think  that  I  would 
be  likely  now  to  repeat  a  sermon  like  No.  37.  There  is.  I  have 
found  out,  a  more  excellent  way. 

THE   "BIG  GUN." 

Most  ministers  have  one  or  moi^e  pet  sermons — "big  guns" — 
as  they  are  sometimes  called  — a  sort  of  dress-paiade  discourse, 
to  be  discharged  at  the  heads  of  unsuspecting  congregations  on 
special  occasions.  Tliev  are  the  preacher's  traveling  companions. 
Well,  1  thought  I  must  be  in   the   fashion   and    have   a  piece   of 


87 

heavy  ordnan(-e  also.  I  got  it;  but  instead  of  being  rifled,  it 
proved  to  be  of  siiuwth-hort';  and,  like  some  (jld  muskets  noted  for 
their  back-action,  was  a  "kicker,"  which  only  injured  the  preacher 
without  doing  any  execution  amongst  those  at  whom  it  was 
aimed.  Being  leveled  at  their  lu'ads,  the  discharge,  of  course,  did 
not  strike  the  people's  h(;arts;  and,  l)y  reason  of  its  kicking  j)ro- 
pensity,  which  throws  the  muzzle  of  the  musket  in  an  upward 
direction,  at  the  moment  of  its  discharge,  the  load  did  not 
even  stiike  the  object  aimed  at,  but  went  over  the 
people's  heads.  After  twi;  or  three  experiments  the  "l)ig 
gun"  was  retired  from  active  service,  and  was  sul)- 
sequently  given  to  the  tlam(;s  tog(;ther  with  the  large 
number  of  other  ineffective  homiletical  weapons  of  warfare 
already  referred  to.  For  all  the  rc^al  purposes  cjf  a  sermon  th(> 
"big  gun"  is  a  complete  failure.  It  may  arrest  attention,  (  hal- 
lenge  admiration,  may  win  for  the  preacher  the  reputation  of 
being  "smart,"  "clever"  or  "talented;"  but  the  Holy  Ghost  rarely, 
if  ever,  uses  such  for  the  conversion  of  soids  or  the  edification  of 
God's  people.  Sometimes,  too,  much  to  the  disa{)pointment  of 
the  i")reacher,  no  report  of  it  is  ever  heard  I 

A   I'kACTRlAI.  SI'.kMoN. 

At  the  close  of  the  (Irst  vear  of  inv  pastorate,  it  was  geiu-ralh' 
conceded  that  the  church,  in  all  the  departments  wlii(  h  fell  di- 
rectly under  my  supervision,  was  in  as  healthful  and  ilomisliing  a, 
condition  as  it  had  ever  known.  The  wheels  of  the  finance  de- 
partment alone  turned  slowly.  While  a  goodly  portion  of  the 
people  was  always  prompt  in  their  visits  to  the  treasurer,  there 
were  many  thoroughly  careless  and  delinquent;  and  there  was  no 
pretense  on  the  part  of  the  official  boards  of  complying  with  the 
conditions  of  the  call,  and  making  prompt  payments  to  the 
pastor.  All  efforts  to  spur  the  pec^ple  into  activity  were  fruitless. 
To  say  n(Jthing  of  the  inconvenience  to  which  he  was  subjected 
by  reason  of  the  failure  of  the  ((jngregation  to  kee])  its  engage- 
ments, the  pastor  wished  to  be  able  to  report  at  the  coming 
spring  meeting  of  Presbytery  that  a  settlement  in  lull  had  been 
made.  I  resolved,  therefore,  on  the  Sabbath  preceding  the  Pres- 
bytery, to  preach  another  ad  hominem  sermon  by  wav  of  arousing 
the  dormant  conscience  of  the  people  and  bringing  the  delin- 
quents to  their  duty.  My  theme  c^n  that  day  was  "The  Fiaiitless 
Vine."  I  endeavored  to  hold  the  mirror  up  to  nature  that  each 
might  see  his  and  her  own  likeness  faithfully  reHected.  In  con- 
clusion I  urged  the  duty  of  repentance,  with  tiie  new  ecclesias- 
tical year,  to  turn  a  new  leaf,  and  closed  with  this  sentence,  "If 
you  owe  your  pastor  go  and  pay  him  1"  Delinquents  could  not 
very  well  pass  that  to  the  people  in  tiie  next  pew  as  having  no 
special  reference  to  them.  \or  did  they.  I  he  sermon  bore 
fruit  immediately.  Bright  and  early  Monday  morning  th(,'  m(jney 
began  t<j  How  into  the  treasury,  aiul   by   ncjon  (A  that   (lay  1    harl 


signed  a  receipt  for  salary  in  full   to  tiiat  date.     Thus  ended  the 
first  year  of  my  pastorate. 

A  CUKE   FOR   IMNCINO. 

Four  events  or  incidents  served  to  punctuate  the  history  of 
the  next  twelve  months: 

(i).  Terpsichore  had  many  devotees  among  the  young  peo- 
ple of  the  town,  and  of  the  church  as  well.  They  were  very  fond 
of  the  dance,  going  even  so  far  as  to  prefer  it  to  the  prayer-meet- 
ing! The  extent  to  which  it  was  carried  had  caused  my  venera- 
ble predecessor  much  anxiety  and  was  the  occasion  of  not  a  little 
solicitude  to  myself.  The  pulpit  had  inveighed  against  it,  and 
the  Presbytery  had  interposed  its  episcopal  authority  to  prevent 
it  within  its  bounds;  but  neither  pastoral  denunciation  nor  Pres- 
byterial  anathema  had  any  terrors  for  the  ardent  lovers  of  this 
alluring  pastime.  As  yet  I  had  not  specifically  referred  to  it  in  my 
pidpit  ministrations;  but  had  been  carefully  considering  the  best 
course  to  pursue  to  correct  the  growing  worldliness  among  the 
people,  and  to  confine  this  form  of  amusement  within  reasonable 
bounds.  It  was  not  long  before  an  occasion  presented  itself 
which  enabled  me  to  call  public  attention  to  the  matter,  and  for 
the  application  of  the  ccjrrective  which  I  felt  pretty  sure  was  the 
proper  one. 

It  was  in  January,  '68,  when,  having  become  well  settled  in 
their  elegant  new  home  on  the  hill,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  C.  Marchand 
invited  their  many  friends  in  the  town  and  vicinity  to  a  "house- 
warming"  reception.  The  gentleman  who  is  now  your  worthy 
Burgess,  the  distinguished  lawyer,  politician,  church-warden, 
banker,  and  I  know  not  what  else,  was  then  to  everybody,  what 
he  still  is  and  will  be  to  his  intimate  friends,  plain  "Jack"  Mar- 
chand— a  young  gentleman  whose  reputation  for  playful  mis- 
chief was  then  much  greater  than  for  application  to  business  or 
piety.  He  resolved  to  play  one  of  his  practical  jokes  on  the 
young  minister,  who  was  then  well  understood  to  be  his  prospect- 
ive cousin.  All  his  arrangements  for  the  terpsichorean  part  of 
the  program  were  quietly  made,  relying  on  the  certainty  of  my 
being  present,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Being  made  aware  of  his 
project,  I  resolved  to  checkmate  his  move,  sent  my  regrets  to  the 
hcjst  and  hostess,  and  commissioned  "mine  hostess"  and  friend 
Mrs.  Miskelly,  to  say  to  any  who  might  inquire  the  cause  of  m^' 
absence,  that  if  they  would  come  to  church  on  the  following 
Sabbath  they  would  find  out.  This  had  the  desired  effect.  The 
word  soon  passed.  Curiosity  was  on  tiiJtoe.  "The  Prcsbvterians 
are  going  to  get  it  now  and  no  mistake,"  they  said,  and  the 
voung  people  of  the  other  churches  many  of  them  made  up  their 
minds  to  come  and  hear  the  Presbyterians  "get  it."  The  day 
came.  It  was  very  wet  and  otlierwise  disagreeable,  still  the  at- 
tendance was  large.  In  the  morning  I  dwelt  upon  Conscience 
and  its  Functions  only,  promising  in  the  evening  to  make  the  ap- 
plication.    At  the  evening  service   the   house   was  filled,  though 


89 

the  wcatlier  continued  l)ad.  They  were  disappointed — agreeably 
so.  The  Pi  esby  terians  did  not  "get  it,"  as  was  expected.  There  was 
no  denunciation-  no  scolding.  Everybody  in  relation  to  such 
matters  was  put  upon  his  and  her  conscience,  and  if  they  could 
get  the  consent  and  ap])roval  of  that  representative  organ  to  any 
course  of  conduct,  thev  were  bound  to  obey  it;  all  must  decide 
for  themselves.  Ministers  coidd  not  decide  for  them,  being 
neither  tlieir  conscience  nor  their  pope,  but  counsellors  and 
spiritual  advisers  in  the  Lord.  Being  thus  left  practically  to 
the  freedom  of  their  own  will  in  the  matter,  nobody  wanted  to 
dance  half  as  badly  as  before,  and  the  evil  was  so  far  abated  as 
not  to  give  rise  to  any  serious  troul)le  during  my  day. 

11 1 1''.    I'ASI'OR'S  MARRIAOE. 

(2.)  Tlu'  second  event  in  the  histor}'  of  this  year  calling  for 
special  mention  is  one  which  nripressed  itself  indellibly  both 
upon  mv  mind  and  life.  In  his  history  of  Blairsville  Presbytery, 
Doctor  Donaldson,  after  referring  to  my  ordination  and  installa- 
tion, tiuis  records  the  incident:  ''After  a  few  months  he  took 
Miss  Kate  Russell,  a  lamb  of  his  flock,  as  mistress  of  his  heart 
and  home."  In  pcjint  of  titwe,  however,  the  Doctor  is  hardly 
accurate,  as  it  was  just  one  year  after  my  ordination  that  our 
marriage,  in  the  old  church,  took  place,  the  latter  occurring  on  the 
23rd  of  June,  '68,  and  the  former  event  on  the  26th  of  June  of 
the  previous  year.  The  mistakes  of  my  life  have  been  many;  but, 
after  twenty  years'  experience  in  the  relation  constituted  between 
the  lady  alluded  to  and  myself,  on  that  balmy  summer  evening 
whose  air  was  fragrant  with  the  breath  of  roses,  I  can  most 
lieartily  say  that  that  was  not  one  of  those  mistakes.  If  I  shoidd 
say  otherwise  here  to-night,  not  one  among  you  all  who  knew, 
and  still  know  her,  could  or  would  believe  it.  She  is  a  help-meet 
indeed — a  model  minister's  wife,  to  whom  I  cheerfully  accord  the 
distinction  of  being  my  "better  half." 

ORKF.NSHURO   HOMK. 

Through  the  gift  of  this  best  of  earthly  boons  Heaven 
bestows  upon  a  man — a  good  wife — Greensburg  placed  me  under 
a  weight  of  obligation  I  can  never  hope  to  discharge;  and  that, 
tc>gether  with  the  fact  of  it  being  the  scene  of  my  earliest  minis- 
terial labors,  gives  to  this  town  a  place  in  my  memory  and  affec- 
tions which  no  other  spot  in  this  land — dear  as  some  others  are 
to  me — can  ever  occupy.  Greensburg  seems  like  home  to  me, 
and  wherever  I  have  been,  and  however  happily  situated,  as  nat- 
urally as  the  exile  to  his  native  land,  or  the  grown  man  to  the 
scenes  of  his  childhood,  my  heart  instinctively  turns  to  this  place 
as  to  a  first  love.  To  this  churcii  and  this  town  my  heart  is 
bound  as  with  iicjoks  of  steel.  And  the  rejuvenescence  and  pros- 
perity in  whicli  both  town  and  church  have  in  recent  years 
shared,  have  afforded  me  the  sincerest  pleasvn-e.  Mere  I  was 
solemnly  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  here  was  my  first 


90 

pastorate,  here  I  married  my  wife,  and  here,  when  life's  race  is 
run  and  its  labors  ended,  I  would  esteem  it  a  privilege,  in  my 
last  sleep,  to  be  laid  away  amid  the  friends  and  the  scenes  of  my 
early  manhood  and  ministerial  life. 

SIMULTANEOUS  CALLS. 

(3.)  In  the  way  of  meeting  its  financial  engagements  with 
the  pastor,  the  second  year,  strange  to  say,  showed  no  improve- 
ment over  the  first,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was  rather  worse. 
Moreover,  that  thoughtfulness  and  consideration  in  little  things 
which  go  so  far  to  assure  the  pastor  of  the  love  and  sympathy  of 
his  people,  were  almost  entirely  wanting.  This  apparent  indiffer- 
ence chilled  and  chaffed  me.  I  felt  uncomfortable  and  became 
restless.  Besides,  it  seemed  to  me  there  was  nothing  more  for 
me  to  do.  The  town  had  long  since  gone  into  a  Rip  Van 
Winkle  sleep,  and  nobody  dreamed  of  an  awakening  to  that  era 
of  development  and  prosperity  which  has  made  the  past  decade 
the  most  remarkable  in  the  entire  history  of  this  ancient  burgh. 
Horace  Greely's  counsel,  "Go  West,  young  man,"  was  then 
ringing  through  the  land.  A  spell  of  western  fever  seized  me. 
I  resolved  not  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  any  voice  that  might  call  me 
hence.  I  had  not  to  wait  long.  By  invitation  I  occupied  the 
pulpit  of  the  First  Church  in  Decatur,  111.,  on  September  13th 
and  20th  of  the  year  '68,  which  had  just  then  become  vacant.  On 
my  retiu-n,  I  was  prevailed  upon  to  conduct  communion  services  for 
the  First  church  of  McKeesport,  Pa.,  which,  at  the  time,  was 
also  without  a  pastor,  and  in  a  very  distracted  condition. 
Whether  I  had  anv  designs  on  the  McKeesport  pulpit,  I  cannot 
now  remember.  At  any  rate,  the  congregation  there,  discarding 
all  precedent  and  formality,  at  a  large  and  enthusiastic  meeting 
held  on  Monday  morning,  before  I  left  the  town,  made  out,  or 
rather  voted  unanimously  to  extend  to  me  a  call  to  the  pastorate. 
On  my  arrival  home  I  found  on  my  desk  a  telegram,  advising  me 
of  a  similar  action  on  the  part  of  the  church  in  Decatur.  Both 
pulpits  possessed  strong  attractions,  and  both  people  pressed 
their  suit  with  much  earnestness  and  persistencv.  That  I  could 
not  accept  both  calls  was  clear  enough.  To  decide  between  them 
seemed  equally  difficult.  Coming,  as  they  did,  almost  simulta- 
neously, I  concluded  that,  as  I  could  not  accept  both,  I  woiUd 
accept  neither,  regarding  the  occurrence  as  an  indication  of 
Providence  that  it  was  my  duty,  for  the  present,  at  least,  to  remain 
where  I  was.  Accordingly,  all  thoughts  of  making  a  change 
were  dismissed  from  my  mind,  and  I  settled  down  to  work  again. 

The  McKeesport  people,  however,  took  occasion,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery  which  was  held  soon  after,  to  urge  upon  me  the 
acceptance  of  their  call.  I  left  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the 
Presbytery.  It  occasioned  long  and  earnest  discussion,  and  had 
it  not  been  that,  when  the  appeal  was  made  to  me  as  to  my  prefer- 
ence, I  adhered  to  the  resolution  to  which  I  had  previously  come, 
the  Presbytery  would  have  placed  the  call  in  my  hands.     By  my 


91 

own  decision  it  was  returned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone.  It 
so  happened,  however,  that  at  that  meetini^  of  our  Presbytery 
there  was  no  lay  representative  from  this  churcli  present,  and  with 
this  peculiar  feature  of  the  case,  as  I  did  not  report  it,  the  people 
here  were  and  remained  in  ij^norance  till  after  the  occurrence  I 
am  about  to  i*elate. 

HEROIC  TREATMENT. 

(4).  As  a  rule,  the  knowledge  of  facts  such  as  those  I  have 
just  stated,  operate  to  the  stimulation  of  a  people  to  make  some 
signs  of  appreciation  of  a  pastor  whose  services  are  acceptable  to 
them.  None  of  these  things,  however,  moved  the  church  of 
Greensburg.  Not  only  was  the  congregation,  as  such,  apparently 
indifferent  (I  say  apparently — for  as  events  proved  it  was  only  so) 
to  the  ccjmfort  of  the  pastor,  but,  which  annoyed  me  much  more, 
it  showed  no  regard  for  compliance  with  its  own  moral  obliga- 
tions. Outwardly  in  every  way  prosperous,  it  seemed  to  me  that 
so  far  as  real  results  were  concerned,  my  labors  were  fruitless. 
I  thought  that  a  people  spiritually  alive  could  not  and  would  not 
act  so.  Warning  and  appeal  were  alike  ineffective.  Refusing  to 
yield  to  the  ordinary  remedies,  I  resolved  upon  heroic  treat- 
ment— a  desperate  expedient — in  the  hope  of  rousing  the  dor- 
mant conscience  and  sensibilities  of  the  people,  both  as  individ- 
uals and  as  a  body.  Having  prayerfully  considered  the  matter — 
all  possible  consequences  having  been  taken  into  the  account — 
early  in  March,  '69,  one  month  previous  to  the  close  of  the  fiscal 
year,  I  publicly  called  the  attention  of  the  people  to  the  facts  as 
they  were,  and  announced  that  on  that  day  four  weeks,  unless 
my  salary  was  paid  in  full,  (I  refused  to  take  it  in  installments) 
they  need  not  expect  to  find  me  in  the  pulpit  on  that  Sabbath. 
The  announcement  was  somewhat  startling,  and,  as  might  be 
expected,  occasioned  a  good  deal  of  comment  favorable  and 
adverse — mostly  favorable,  so  far  as  I  could  learn.  It  resulted  in 
nothing,  however.  It  was  but  a  "nine  days'  wonder,"  and — for- 
gotten. On  the  Saturday  night  previous  to  the  Sabbath  desig- 
nated in  my  announcement,  there  was  actually  less  money  in  the 
treasury  than  on  a  corresponding  date  of  previous  quarters,  and 
not  the  slightest  movement  was  made  to  relieve  the  embarrass- 
ment of  the  situation,  and  so  prevent  the  scandal  and  public 
expose  that  was  to  follow. 

A  MEMORABLE  SABDATH. 

Sabbath,  April  4th,  '69,  was  a  most  disagreeable  and  inclem- 
ent day.  A  large  congregation,  notwithstanding,  assembled,  but 
there  was  no  preaching  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Greens- 
burg on  that  memorable  day !  Refusing  to  stutify  myself  before  the 
community,  and  to  render  my  word  of  none  effect,  I  stood  by  my 
resolution;  and,  no  plan  of  procedure  having  been  agreed  upon 
by  the  officials — ^who,  doubtless,  were  of  the  same  mind  in  refer- 
ence to  my  declaration  of  intention  as  the  then  landlord  of  the 
Westmoreland  House,  who  was  more. famous  for  the  forcibleness 


92 

than  the  elegance  of  his  expressions,  and  who  said  in  his  charac- 
teristic way,  touching  this  matter,  "He  is  only  gassing!" — the 
congregation,  after  a  little  delay,  began  to  realize  the  situation, 
and  separated,  some  going  to  other  churches,  but  the  more  part 
returning  to  their  homes. 

A  (;rf.at  sensation. 

The  incident  had  now  become  both  exciting  and  dramatic. 
The  fuse  which  had  been  slowly  burning  for  a  month,  had  at 
length  reached  the  powder  and  the  explosion  had  come.  The 
minister  had  not  simpl}'  been  "talking,"  but  was  in  dead  earnest. 
Great  was  the  sensation  produced  when  the  fact  became  known 
abnxid.  It  was  flashed  over  the  wires  to  distant  cities  and  car- 
ried as  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  to  the  remote  parts  of  our  own 
country  and  the  regions  beyond.  "A  Preacher  on  a  Strike!"  "No 
Pay,  No  Preach!"  are  specimens  of  the  flaring  headlines  in 
the  newspapers  by  which  the  event  was  blazed  abroad.  For  the 
Presbyterians  in  town  the  situation  was  anything  but  pleasant, 
being  at  once  the  victims  of  the  taunts  of  the  ungodly  and  the 
butt  for  the  shafts  of  ridicule  which  were  shot  at  them  from  all 
directions.  If  they  were  not  in  the  most  amiable  mood,  it  was 
not  to  be  wondered  at.  While  a  few  justified  the  pastor,  the 
general  disposition  at  first  was  to  blame  and  severely  censure 
him.  Two  considerations  served  to  intensify  this  feeling:  First, 
from  the  fact,  referred  to  above,  that  the  Presbytery  declined  to 
put  into  my  hands  the  call  from  McKeesport,  it  was  inferred  that, 
on  the  supposition  that  I  wanted  to  get  away  from  here,  I  took 
this  violent  method  of  accomplishing  what  the  Presbytery  had 
refused  to  sanction;  and  second,  so  far  as  heard  from,  the  breth- 
ren of  the  Presbytery  unqualifiedly  condemned  the  procedure  of 
the  pastor,  doing  so,  of  coiu-sc,  on  an  exparte  presentation  of  the 
case,  but  probably  concluding  that  a  measure  so  extraordinary 
was  unjustifiable  under  any  circumstances.  With  the  passage  of 
the  hoiu-s  and  days  the  disposition  to  simply  censure  the  pastor, 
developed,  under  the  stimulus  of  the  considerations  alluded  to, 
into  a  feeling  of  open  hostility.  It  was  evident  that  the  convic- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  officials  of  the  church  was,  that  the  die 
was  cast,  that  the  rupture  was  hopeless,  and  that  any  efforts  at 
accommodation  would  be  useless.     At  least  none  were  attempted. 

In  order  to  keep  out  of  the  storm,  and  to  give  the  elements, 
now  in  a  state  of  violent  disturbance,  free  play,  I  absented  my- 
self from  the  town  early  in  the  week,  and,  causing  a  notice  to  be 
published  in  some  of  the  county  papers  that  there  would  be 
services  in  the  Presbyterian  church  on  the  following  Sabbath, 
did  not  return  sooner  than  Friday.  My  purpose  at  first  was  not 
to  preach  again,  and,  till  the  Presbytery  met,  exchange  with  the 
brethren;  I  afterwards  concluded,  however,  as  I  was  still  pastor, 
to  preach  myself  and  announce  my  determination  to  ask  for  a 
dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  at  the  coming  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  as  to  continue  longer  under  the  old  conditions,  how- 


93 

ever  the  people  mii^lit  feel  about  this  mutter,  was  iniiv)ssible.  I 
h;ul  made  up  my  mind  to  g"0,  unle'ss  the  eoiulitioiis  upon  which  I 
ae<epte(l  the  call  were  respected  and  lived  up  to  by  the  congre- 
gation. 

OKKU'lAI,   AL'TION. 

Meanwhile,  construing  my  refusal  to  preach  as  a  virtual  ab- 
dication of  the  pastoral  office,  the  elders  and  trustees,  represent- 
ing, doubtless,  the  then  dominant  feeiing  of  the  people,  gave  formal 
and  official  expression  to  that  feeling  in  a  communication  handed 
me  late  on  Saturday  evening  by  D.  W.  Shryock,  Esq.,  the  leading 
elder  of  the  church.  In  the  envelope  was  the  resolution  of  the 
board  of  trustees  which  declared  all  financial  responsibility  be- 
tween that  body  arid  myself,  by  reason  of  my  action  on  the  pre- 
vious Sabbath,  at  an  end,  and  also  the  action  of  the  elders  setting 
forth  the  fact,  much  to  their  sorrow  and  regret,  that  the  people 
were  incensed  at  mv  course,  and  their  conviction  that  an  attempt 
on  my  part  to  again  occupy  the  pidpit  would  endanger  the  peace 
and  harmony  of  the  church  which,  as  in  duty  bound,  they  must 
at  ail  hazards,  seek  to  preserve. 

It  was  a  critical  moment.  There  was  no  questioning  now 
the  attitude  of  these  official  boards,  and  it  was  not  easy  to  foresee, 
at  this  juncture,  what  the  morrow  would  bring  forth.  For  my- 
self I  had  no  disposition  to  precipitate  a  scene  (jr  in  any  way  to 
interfere  with  the  highest  welfare  of  the  church.  On  the  con- 
trary it  was  this  I  had  been  seeking  all  along,  and  to  attain  which, 
the  extraordinary  step  I  had  taken  was  prompted.  To  Mr.  Shry- 
ock, therefore,  I  stated  as  much,  and  said  if  the  people  felt  as  in- 
dicated in  the  communications  he  had  handed  me,  I  would  not, 
as  I  had  intended,  occupy  the  pulpit  on  the  morrow.  If,  how- 
ever, the  people  were  not  fully  informed  as  to  the  facts  in  the 
case,  and  if  the  resolutions  of  the  boards,  as  on  their  face  to  me 
they  seemed,  were  simply  an  attempt  at  self-justification  and  a 
casting  of  the  entire  odium  of  the  affair  upon  me,  I  would  claim 
my  right,  as  pastor  still,  to  occupv  the  pulpit  and  speak  to  the 
people.  Whatever  was  best  and  right  I  was  prepared  to  do. 
With  the  understanding  that  there  should  be  a  conference  of  the 
session  after  Sabbath  school  in  the  morning,  \vc  parted  for  the 
night. 

It  would  be  useless  to  disguise  the  fact  that  the  entire  week 
was  to  me  a  period  of  great  anxiety,  and  the  night  one  of  compar- 
ative restlessness,  since  just  what  turn  affairs  wei"e  going  to  take 
I  had  not  the  least  idea. 

With  considerable  nervousness  I  went  to  vSabbath  school  as 
usual  and  was  a  good  deal  relieved  to  find  ever3'body  in  their 
places,  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  and  without  the  slightest 
friction  or  unpleasantness  the  exercises  were  gone  thrcjugh  with 
and  br(juuht  to  a  close. 


94 


THE  SESSION   IN  CONFERENCE. 


The  session  at  this  time  was  composed  of  tlie  five  following 
gentlemen:  JMessrs.  Shryock,  Kilgore,  Kerr,  Kenly  and  Patter- 
son. The  last  three  are  no  longer  with  you.  The  last  of  the 
three  in  the  order  named,  Mr.  James  Patterson,  who  had  come 
into  the  session  but  a  few  months  before  this  time,  was  the  first 
to  be  called  to  his  rest.  Unsophisticated,  single-minded,  pure- 
hearted,  he  was  a  good  man,  to  whose  fidelity  may  be  borne  a 
testimony  similar  to  that  which  the  Most  High  bore  to  Abraham 
when  he  said  of  the  Patriarch,  "I  know  him  that  he  will  com- 
mand his  children  and  his  household  after  him  to  do  justice  and 
judgment."  His  large  family,  walking  in  his  footsteps,  all  fol- 
lowing him  as  he  followed  Christ,  is  the  best  living  testimony  to 
his  own  simple  piety,  as  well  as  that  of  his  wife — both  of  whom 
were  "righteous  before  God,  walking  in  all  the  commandments 
of  the  Lord  blameless."  Mr.  Richard  Kenlv  was  the  next  to  die; 
and  then,  but  a  few  weeks  ago,  while  I  was  yet  penciling  these 
lines,  came  to  me  the  tidings  of  the  decease  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Kerr  who,  almost  a  nonagenarian,  came  to  his  "grave  in  a  full 
age  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his  season."  He  was  a 
sterling  Scotchman.  Trained  up  as  a  child  in  the  way  he  should 
go,  when  he  was  old  he  departed  not  from  it.  Upright  in  his 
life,  he  was  a  most  excellent  citizen.  As  a  Christian  man  and  an 
office-bearer  in  the  house  of  God,  according  to  the  measure  of 
his  ability  he  was  not  wanting  in  his  duty  to  the  church.  He 
was  regular  in  his  attendance  upon  public  worship,  though  even 
in  my  day  his  hearing  was  so  dull  that  he  could  with  difficulty 
participate  in  the  services,  while  his  presence  might  always  be 
counted  on  at  every  meeting  of  session.  Both  Mr.  Patterson  and 
Mr.  Kerr  I  have  always  had  good  reason  to  reckon  among  the 
number  of  my  warm  personal  friends.  Of  the  original  quintette, 
then,  but  two  elders  now  remain — -Messrs.  Shryock  and  Kilgore — 
both  of  whom,  still  pillars  in  the  sanctuary,  were  amongst  the  most 
loyal  supporters  of  the  church,  on  whose  friendship  I  always 
counted,  and  whose  counsels  were  generally  wise  and  practical. 

I  shall  never  forget  with  what  grave  dignity  these  five  breth- 
ren filed  into  the  lecture  room,  and  down  its  south  side  to  its  ex- 
treme western  corner,  where  they  became  seated.  Every  man 
sat  with  solemn  countenance,  heads  prone,  indicative  of  their 
appreciation  of  the  great  responsibility  that  rested  upon  them. 
To  the  question  as  to  what  course  they  would  advise,  not  a  man, 
for  a  considei-able  space  of  time,  spoke.  The  silence  became  op- 
pressive, and  tiie  time  for  service  in  the  church  was  close  upon 
us.  I  reminded  them  of  this  fact,  and  then  slowly  and  solemnly, 
one  after  the  other  they  gave  expression  to  the  same  sentiment 
contained  in  their  letter  of  the  previous  evening.  They  all  felt, 
and  deeply  regretted  it,  each  giving  kindly  expression  to  the 
otherwise  prosperous  state  of  the  church,  that  I  had  fatally  in- 
jured myself,  that  my  usefulness  was   at   an   end,  and    that   they 


95 

roxild  not  be  answerable  for  the  consequences  of  niv  appearance 
in  the  pulpit  tliat  morniiis;-.  As,  however^  no  one  said  I  shcnild 
not  preach,  and  as  I  feared  any  delay  on  entering  the  pulpit 
might  be  construed  by  the  people  as  an  indication  that  there  might 
not  be  any  service,  and,  as  on  the  previous  Sabbath,  leave  the 
building,  I  brought  the  conference  to  a  close,  saying  that  I 
would  take  the  risks,  and  would  see  them  again  after  the  services 
of  the  morning,  when  we  would  perhaps  be  in  a  better  condition 
to  determine  what  further  should  be  done. 

The  church  was  full,  curiosity  doubtless  attracting  some  out- 
siders whose  faces -were  not  often  seen  in  any  sanctuary  on  ordi- 
nary occasions.  The  services  proceeded  without  anything  unu- 
sual, or  any  signs  of  anything  unusual  having  happened.  I  had 
a  short  sermon  written  on  3rd  John,  4 — "I  have  no  greater  joy  than 
to  hear  that  my  children  walk  in  the  truth,"  and  from  these  words 
set  forth  the  principles  and  aims  of  a  faithful  pastor  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  to  his  flock.  I  tiien  applied  these  to  the  case 
in  hand;  told  the  people  plainly  (what  was  news  to  them  as  a 
body)  the  conditions  on  which  I  had  accepted  their  call,  and 
their  own  failure  to  comply  with  them;  that  the  course  1  had 
pursued  arose  out  of  this  failure  on  their  part,  in  the  hope  that  it 
might  have  roused  them  tco  their  duty;  but  that  if,  by  what  I  had 
done,  1  had  forfeited  their  respect  and  love,  I  was  prepared  to  resign, 
and,  indeed,  would  do  so  anyway,  unless  the  cause  of  the  trouble 
was  removed;  but  that  if,  on  a  full  presentation  and  consideration 
ol  the  facts  as  they  are,  y(ni  take  a  different  view  of  the  matter, 
I  am  prepared  to  remain  and  go  on  witli  mv  work  as  usual — this 
last  statement  putting  a  quietus  on  the  representation  that  I 
wanted  to  go,  and  was  determined  to  go,  whether  or  no. 

A  deep  and  tender  feeling  pervaded  the  congregation  during 
the  recital  of  these  statements,  and  evidences  were  not  wanting 
of  the  emotions  with  which  the  people's  hearts  were  then  stirred. 
The  whole  affair  appeared  in  its  true,  though  to  them  as  a  body, 
in  a  new  light.  The  revolution  even  then,  to  an  unprejudiced 
observer,  was  as  comjjlete  as  it  was  apparent.  The  brethren  of 
the  session,  however,  wiUing,  as  I  then  thought,  to  justify  their 
own  action  and  that  of  the  board  of  trustees,  were  not  yet  ready 
to  take  this  view  of  the  situation.  They  were  then  rather  in 
favor  of  aggressive  steps  toward  the  pastor,  though  they  did  not 
know,  in  a  case  so  utterly  without  precedent,  just  what  to  do. 
They  would  have  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  Presbytery.  My 
reply  to  this  was  that  I  was  perfectly  agreeable  to  the  reference 
to  the  Presbytery,  but  that  it  was  a  question  with  which  the 
Presbytery  need  not  have  anvthing  whatever  to  do — a  matter,  in 
fact,  of  dollars  and  cents — the  keeping  of  the  contract  volun- 
tarily entered  into  by  themselves  with  the  pastor.  As  I  had  pub- 
licly stated,  if  I  was  not  wanted  I  did  not  want  to  stay,  and  I 
would  not  stay  anywav,  unless  they  complied  with  their  contract. 

Thus  we  separated  to  see  what  the  evening  would  bring 
forth.     The  house  in  the  evening  was  again  fidl.     The  sympathy 


96 

of  the  people  was  witli  ttie  pastor.  The  great  world  believes, 
and  has  a  right  to  believe,  that  the  church  should  be  ht^nest  and 
honorable  in  its  secular  transactions;  that  it  especially  should 
keep  faith  with  its  pastors,  and  pay  them  promptly,  on  the  day, 
what  it  promises,  even  though,  as  in  the  case  of  individuals  who 
wish  to  preserve  their  credit,  it  should  go  into  bank  and  borrow 
what  is  necessary  to  meet  its  obligations.  If  the  church  does  not 
set  to  the  world  an  example  of  honor  and  fidelity  in  these  regards, 
what  influence  for  good  can  the  church  hope  to  have  on  the 
world?  And  this  is  the  view  the  community  at  large,  which  was 
familiar  with  the  facts,  t(X)k  of  my  ccjurse,  endorsing  my  position. 

The  following  week  passed  without  incident.  The  services 
on  the  succeeding  Sabbath  being  over,  I  called  the  session  to- 
gether again  for  conference.  They  had  the  right  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  congregaticjn  to  take  action  in  the  premises,  but  now 
they  said  all  was  quiet  again,  tlie  trouble  was  over  and  a  meeting 
was  not  necessary.  At  this  announcement  i  expressed  my  grati- 
fication; but  stated  that  nothing  at  all  had  been  done  towards  re- 
lieving my  embarrassment,  and  that  unless  steps  were  taken  in 
that  direction  I  should  most  positively  ask  the  Presbytery,  when' 
it  should  come,  in  a  week  or  two,  to  dissolve  the  relation.  It  was 
agreed,  then,  to  ask  the  people  to  remain  after  service  on  the  next 
Sabbath,  to  acknowledge  their  own  delinquency  as  a  congrega- 
tion, and,  meanwhile,  to  make  provision  for  payment  of  salary  in 
full  U)  date.  It  was  so  done.  The  Presbytery  met  on  the  follow- 
ing Tuesday,  expecting  fully  to  have  to  disscjlve  the  pastoral  re- 
lation. On  their  arrival,  however,  to  their  great  surprise,  the  people 
not  being  over  anxious  to  talk  about  the  matter  themselves,  the 
brethren  had  to  make  inquiry  abenit  the  affair,  otherwise  they 
would  not  have  known  that  there  had  been  any  trouble  at  all. 
The  storm  had  all  blown  over,  and  there  wa^  a  complete  calm  on 
the  bosom  of  the  ecclesiastical  deep.  All  was  quiet  on  the 
Potomac. 

Thus  hajipily  ended  a  course  of  action  concerning  the  pro- 
priety and  prudence  of  which  wise  and  good  people  will  always 
differ  in  opinion,  and  which  was  at  one  time  so  ominous  of  evil. 
But  however  opinions  may  differ  about  the  procedure  itself,  none 
can  doubt  the  good  effects  upon  this  people,  while  we  know  of 
its  happy  influence  upon  other  congregations  which  had  been 
equallv  remiss  in  their  duty  to  tlfcir  pastors,  and  in  what  v/as  due 
alike  to  themselves  and  the  honor  of  the  Christian  religion.  The 
following  year  was  the  most  successful,  in  the  best  sense,  of  any 
vear  of  my  pastorate.  There  was  a  greater  degree  of  activity  on 
the  part  of  those  charged  with  the  official  management  of 
church  affairs,  wdiile  the  people,  who  had  been  remiss  in  their 
duty,  at  length,  awakened  to  a  sense  of  tlieir  obligation  and  past 
delincjuencv,  were  more  prompt  in  the  ]:)avment  of  their  dues. 
And  when,  at  length,  I  was  about  to  take  my  final  leave,  and  Mr. 
D.  W.  Shryock,  representing  the  treasurer.  Dr.  John  Morrison, 
brought  to  our  house,  on  the  very  day  it  was  due,  the   last  quarter's 


97 

salarv  which,  he  stated,  had  been  actually  collected — a  thing,  so 
far  as  I  could  ascertain,  that  had  never  before  taken  place  in  the 
history  of  the  church — I  felt  that  my  work  in  Greensburg  had 
not  been  wholly  in  vain,  and,  like  old  Simeon,  T  felt  like  exclaim- 
ing, A^////c  diinittis — "Lord,  now  lettest  Thou  'J'hy  servant  depart 
in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation." 

THK  OKDINANCKS  AND    rHK  SICK. 

On  Sabbath  afternoons,  while  here,  1  frequently  preached  at 
llaiuiastown,  White's  school  house.  Radebaugh's,  and   Ludwick. 

During  my  actual  pastorate,  I  baptized  24  children,  ranging 
in  age  from  three  nKjntlis  to  three  years,  the  first  and  the  last  of 
these  being  the  children  of  Jabez  and  Martha  College.  A  couple 
of  infants  which  I  baptized  in  their  sickness,  at  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  their  mothers — died;  and  a  couple  of  others  which  I  de- 
clined to  baptize,  under  similar  circumstances — got  well.  My 
rule  was  not  to  baptize  either  sick  children  or  adults,  but  the 
condition  of  the  mothers,  in  the  cases  where  I  yielded  to  their 
entreaties,  seemed  to  render  it  imperative  that  I  should  do  so. 
A  very  remarkable  effect  of  non-compliance  with  the  request  of 
a  sick  adult  for  baptism  and  admission  to  the  communion  of  the 
church  was  in  the  case  of  a  gentleman,  a  county  official,  but 
whose  name  I  shall  not  mention.  He  was  a  very  large  man,  I 
remember,  and  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  violent  distemper 
which  baffled  the  skill  of  the  four  physicians  who  were  called  to 
attend  him.  They  said  he  would  surely  die — then.  He  became 
alarmed,  and  on  a  very  blustry  Sabbath  (near  the  close  of  my 
pastorate)  I  was  sent  for  in  hot  haste  to  go  and  see  him.  In- 
stead of  administering  the  Sacrament  I  preached  to  him,  as  his 
only  resource,  Jesus.  He  did  not  want  to  die,  as  he  did  not  feel 
prepared.  Among  many  other  things  I  said,  1  told  him  I  did  not 
see  anv  use  or  sense  in  his  dying — just  then,  the  physicians  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding.  He  was  big  and  strong,  and  in- 
stead of  allowing  the  disease  to  master  him  and  yielding,  as  he 
was  evidently  doing,  to  what,  from  what  the  doctors  had  said  to 
him,  seemed  the  inevitable — death,  he  should  summon  up  his 
energies,  never  mind  the  doctors,  shake  off  the  disease,  ask  God 
to  spare  him,  and  then,  if  he  were  really  in  earnest,  when  he  was 
well  he  could  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord  and  publicly  give 
himself  to  Christ,  as  beseemed  then  desirous  of  doing;  and  much 
more  t(j  this  effect.  After  praying  with  the  family  and  exhort- 
ing them,  I  withdrew,  leaving  them  much  dissatisfi^ed  with  my 
course.  New  thoughts,  however,  were  put  into  the  sick  man's 
mind.  He  took  mv  advice.  From  that  time  he  began  to  recover, 
and  among  the  last  t(j  visit  me  before  leaving  for  the  west,  was 
this  same  man,  fullv  restored  to  health,  to  thank  me  for  my  faith- 
fulness to  him,  attributing  liis  recovery  quite  as  much  to  me, 
under  God,  as  to  the  doctors.  He  seemed  also  to  have  much 
clearer  views  of  the  nature  of  spiritual  religion  than  before;  but 
whether  he  carried  out  his  intention  to   unite  with  the  Christian 


98 

church  or  not,  I  am  not  able  to  sav.  I  should  not  be  surprised, 
however,  if  he  has  not  done  so.  Such  cases  are  only  of  too  fre- 
quent occurrence,  illustrating^  the  truth  of  the  couplet: 

"When  the  Devil  was  sick,  the  Devil  a  saint  would  be; 
When  the  Devil  was  well,  the  devil  a  saint  was  he." 

THK  SKXTON. 

A  most  important  personage  about  any  well  ordered  church 
is  the  Sexton — and  to  emphasize  that  importance,  I  write  the 
word  with  a  big  S.  Many  a  good  sermon  falls  flat  or  is  spoiled 
through  the  negligence,  lack  of  common  sense,  or  mismanage- 
ment of  the  Sexton.  A  good  Sexton  is  as  rare  as  his  importance 
is  great.  We  have  got  one  now  at  the  church  of  the  Evangel,  in 
Philadelphia,  the  first  of  his  kind,  with  one  exception,  that  I 
have  been  blessed  with  during  my  ministerial  life.  He  is  a 
rara  avis.  While  hei"e,  this  congregation  was  favored  with  the 
services  of  a  Mrs.  Fleming,  who,  that  her  title  might  correspond 
with  her  dignity  and  attributes,  was  dubbed  and  generally  known 
as  Captain  Fleming.  She  gi-eatly  magnified  her  office.  She  al- 
ways sought  to  impress  with  a  sense  of  her  importance  the  un- 
fortunate pewholder,  and  the  irrepressible  small  boy  of  cake  and 
candy  proclivities,  who  lost  no  chance  of  tempting  her,  in  his 
turn,  to  a  display  of  her  military  prowess.  She  was  a  veritable 
Amazon.  The  weapons  of  her  warfare  were  those  carnal  ones 
common  to  her  sex — the  tongue,  the  broom  handle  and  the  poker. 
The  preacher,  however,  suffered  most  at  lier  hands.  She  seemed 
sometimes,  if  not  possessed  with  a  demon,  to  be,  at  least,  in  collu- 
sion with  the  devil;  for,  despite  all  remonstrances,  as  certainlv  as 
the  time  would  come  when  the  minister  would  have  anything  of 
special  moment  to  say  to  the  people,  any  pathetic  passage  which 
called  for  soft  and  subdued  tones  in  its  delivery,  that  woman 
would  be  sure  to  begin  to  poke  and  stir  the  heaters  which  stood 
in  the  basement  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  pulpit,  making  such 
a  racket  as  to  destroy  the  effect  of  what  was  being  said.  Good 
sextons,  like  poets,  are  born,  not  made.  Mav  their  numbers  be 
multiplied. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  number  received  on  confession  of  faith  during  mv  [las- 
torate  was  small — only  nine  in  the  three  years,  or  an  average  of 
three  a  year.  This  was  attributable  to  three  causes:  (i),  the 
available  or  convertible  material  had  become  pretty  well  ex- 
hausted; (2),  the  population  was  not  as  large  then  as  it  has  since 
become;  (3),  I  not  only  did  not  encourage  people  simply  to  "join 
the  church,"  but  frequently  dissuaded  persons  from  doing  so 
until  they  were  well  satisfied  of  the  work  of  grace  in  their  hearts. 
I  had  then,  as  I  have  still,  a  dread  of  causing  persons  to  "join  the 
church"  who  are  not  united  to  Christ  by  a  living  faith,  and  I  have 
seen  the  awful  consequences  of  it  in  so  many  cases,  that  that  fear, 
instead  of  becoming  lessened,  increases  witli  the  passing  years. 


99 

h'orty-four  persons  were  received  by  letter  from  other 
chiirclies  during  my  official  connection  with  this  congregation. 

The  roll  of  communicants  numbered  as  high  as  220,  but  by 
deaths  and  removals  this  number  was  reduced  to  200.  Of  these 
38  names  were  placed  on  the  "reserve  roll,"  leaving  on  my  de- 
jjarture  hence  the  actual  number  of  communicants  "in  good  and 
regular  standing"  at  162. 

The  number  of  marriages  solemnized  was  seventeen — only 
live  being  parties  immediatelv  connected  with  this  congregation. 
One  double  wedding  took  place  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Jabez 
College. 

During  the  same  period  fourteen  funerals  were  attended. 
Of  these  three  were  of  children,  three  of  youths  in  their  nonage,  one 
of  a  person  of  some  60  vears,  four  of  persons  of  three  score  and 
ten  years  and  upward,  and  three  of  octogenarians. 

For  eighteen  months  after  my  settlement  as  pastor,  there 
was  but  little  sickness,  and  not  a  single  death.  During  the  last 
five  months  of  '68,  beginning  with  Mrs.  Alice  Agnew,  the  deaths 
came  thick  and  fast  until  eleven  of  the  entire  number  of  funerals 
were  attended.  In  '69  there  were  but  two  deaths  in  our  own 
congregation,  and  the  last  funeral  service  at  w^hich  1  officiated  as 
pastor,  was  that  of  little  Annie  Brown  on  December  2nd,  of  that 
year. 

Near  the  close  of  '68  and  in  the  early  part  of  '69,  following 
close  upon  one  another  came  the  deaths  of  four  ministers  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Blairsville — three  of  whom  had  already  passed  the 
allotted  limit  of  human  life,  and,  like  shocks  of  corn  fully  ripe, 
were  gathered  in  to  the  Garner;  the  other  a  young  man  who  had 
scarcely  more  than  crossed  the  threshold  of  ministerial  activity 
when  he  was  cut  down,  his  physical  constitution,  however,  not 
being  robust  for  some  years  previous.  First  came  the  demise  of 
my  venerable  predecessor,  Dr.  Joseph  Smith,  a  month  later  Dr. 
Kirkpatrick,  of  Poke  Run,  and  soon  after  Dr.  Gillett,  of  I>atrobe 
and  Unitv,  and  then  later  on  towards  the  summer  of  '69  my  col- 
lege chum  and  friend,  T.  M.  Brown,  the  pastor  at  Beulah — were 
"not,  for  God  took"  them.  Of  these  brethi'en  it  fell  to  my  lot  to 
write  obituary  notices  for  the  county  papers  here,  as  well  as  for 
some  of  the  religious  journals.  The  close  succession  in  which 
these  of  necessitv  appeared,  called  attention  to  the  fact.  A.  S. 
Thompson,  a  very  dear  friend  of  mine,  having  been  intimately 
associated  at  both  college  and  seminary,  was  then  pastor  at 
Worthington,  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.  Anxious  that  we  might  be 
brought  into  closer  fellowship,  I  asked  him  to  allow  me  to  present 
his  name  to  some  of  the  churches  made  vacant  by  the  death  of 
these  brethren.  To  which  he  jocosely  made  answer,  "No;  you 
must  not  do  that.  I  am  afraid  you  might  be  writing  my  obituary 
if  I  came  here!"  Alas!  my  noble  friend,  after  a  few  more  years 
of  faithful  toil  for  the  Master,  having  returned  late  one  evening 
from  a  day  of  pastoral  visitation  and  put  awa)^  his  horse,  on  the 
way  from  the  stable  to  his  house,  where  his  wife  with  two  lovelv 


children  were  listening  for  tlie  footsteps  they  might  hear  no 
more — fell  never  to  rise  again.  So  little  do  we  know  of  the  time, 
place,  or  manner  of  our  taking  off.  fn  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
he  had  gone  to  his  reward. 

It  was  a  week  of  funerals.  I  had  been  prevented  from  mak- 
ing any  preparation  for  the  Sabbath.  Mr.  Gillett  was  buried  on 
Saturday.  It  was  a  raw,  cold,  blustery  day,  and  I  was  chilled 
through.  On  coming  home  in  the  evening  and  sitting  down  by 
the  fire  I  was  overcome  with  sleep.  I  concluded  I  had  best  retire 
early  and  get  up  fresh  in  the  morning  and  make  what  preparation 
I  could  for  the  day's  work.  That  night,  between  midnight  and 
the  early  morning,  I  was  called  uj)  to  go  and  see  a  sick  person 
that  was  supposed  to  be  dying — an  occurrence  which  stands  alone 
in  my  ministerial  life — out  near  the  toll  gate  on  the  hill  as  you 
go  towards  Pittsburgh.  The  person  did  not  belong  to  our  church. 
On  my  return  I  turned  in  again  for  another  nap.  It  was  all  I 
could  do  to  get  to  Sundav  school  at  9  o'clock.  Busy  there  all 
the  time,  I  had  no  opportunity  to  make  any  preparation  for  the 
pulpit.  Growing  out  of  the  week's  events,  however,  a  text  came 
into  my  mind  fiom  which  I  intended  to  speak  to  the  people. 
It  was  Deut.  32:29 — "O  that  they  were  wise,  that  they  understood 
this,  that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end!"  I  thought  I 
knew  just  where  to  find  it,  but  when  I  came  to  look  it  up  in  the 
pulpit,  it  eluded  my  search.  I  could  not  find  it.  The  services 
were  going  forward,  and  no  text.  Instead  of  getting  the  text 
into  some  sort  of  shape  in  my  mind,  I  was  becoming  so  nervous 
in  my  hunt  for  it,  that  I,  at  last,  would  hardly  have  recognized  it 
if  my  eye  had  fallen  on  it.  I  gave  it  up,  and  when  sermon  time 
came,  started  off  with  reference  to  the  events  of  the  week,  which 
suggested  to  me  the  words  of  the  prophet  from  wdiich  I  proposed 
to  speak  at  that  time.  I  then  quoted  the  text  with  whose  words 
I  was  familiar,  but  said  nothing  at  all  about  where  it  could  be 
found.  The  people  were  unaware  of  my  embarrassment,  and 
with  the  scenes  of  the  week  fresh  before  m3'  mind,  1  had  con- 
siderable liberty  in  preaching  what  was  spoken  of  afterwards  as  a 
very  effective  sermon.  It  was  my  first  and  last  attempt  at  purely 
extempore  address.  It  was  through  no  fault  of  mine  that  the 
usual  preparation  had  not  been  made,  and  so,  according  to  the 
promise,  it  was  "given  me  in  that  hour  what  I  should  speak." 
And  inspired  utterances  are  always  the  best. 

THE  CALL  TO  S'l'.  JOE. 

In  the  latter  part  of  '69,  without  any  solicitation  or  effort  on 
my  part,  not  being  acquainted  with  anybody  in  the  city  or  church, 
a  unanimous  call  came  to  me  from  the  Sixth  street  church,  St. 
Joseph,  Mo.  The  prospects  of  both  church  and  city  were  painted 
in  tr;;e  western  style  in  glowing  colors.  Urging  the  matter  with 
their  characteristic  persistence,  and  being  seized  with  a  fresh 
spell  of  western  fever,  I  concluded  to  accept.  My  recollection  is 
that  ?i pro  re  nata  or  special   meeting  of   Presbytery   was   called, 


and  met  Iicrc  to  consider  the  matter,  and  dissolve  the  relation  be- 
tween myself  and  this  church,  if  the  way  was  clear.  The  ques- 
tion was  earnestly  discussed,  but  by  reason  of  the  manif(  staticjns 
of  their  love  and  attachment  made  by  the  people,  whicii  neither 
the  brethren  of  the  Presbytery  or  myself  could  resist,  the  Presby- 
tery resolved  that  the  way  was  not  clear,  and  the  pastoral  relation 
was  not  dissolved.  Upon  their  being  made  aware  of  this  action 
of  Presbytery,  instead  of  being  discouraged,  the  St.  Joe  people 
renewed  their  call,  and  so  urged  the  matter,  pressing  upc")n  my 
attention  the  great  needs  and  importance  of  their  field  and  the 
opportunity  for  extended  usefulness  thus  opened  up  to  me,  that 
I  at  length  yielded  to  their  entreaty,  and  resolved  to  ask  the 
Presbytery  at  its  spring  meeting  to  dissolve  the  relation  and  let 
me  go.  The  necessary  steps  having  been  taken  by  the  congre- 
gation here,  the  Presbvtery  complied  with  my  request,  and  in 
April,  1870,  the  pastoral  relation,  which  for  three  years  had  ex- 
isted between  myself  and  this  church  was  dissolved.  From  this  re- 
view of  the  nearly  four  years  of  my  connection  with  this  church, 
it  can  readily  be  seen  that  my  pastorate  was  what  may  be  called 
a  transitional  one.  Ii  occupied  a  place  between  the  old  and  the 
new,  between  the  ancient  conservative  and  the  modern  progres- 
sive periods  of  the  church's  history.  My  vv'ork  here,  as  elsewhere, 
is  represented  by  the  axe  and  the  plow  rather  than  the  sickle  and 
the  flail — the  seeding  season  rather  than  the  harvest  time. 
To  your  present  honored,  much  loved  and  successful  pastor, 
I  was  a  sort  of  forerunner — a  kind  of  John  the  Baptist, 
preparing  his  way  before  him.  And  he  very  kindly  writes 
me  what  he  says  he  has  often  expressed,  and  which,  therefore, 
without  impropriety  may  be  here  quoted,  "that  your  pastorate 
made  mine  pleasant  and  prosperous."  Other  of  my  successors 
have  had  occasion  to  say  as  much,  thereby  fulfilling  that  saying 
of  the  Master  :  "One  sovvetli  and  another  reapeth.  I  sent  you 
to  reap  that  whereon  ye  bestowed  no  labor.  Other  men  labored, 
and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labors,  that  both  he  that  soweth  and 
he  that  reapeth  may  receive  wages  and  rejoice  together." 

When  the  time  came  for  our  final  leave-taking  of  this  place  and 
people,  the  pain  of  parting  was  very  keen,  and  I  can  truthfully  say, 
and  here  I  may  speak  for  my  wife  as  well,  that  we  did  not  know  how 
deeply  we  were  attached  to  the  people  or  they  to  us  until  then. 
With  that  experience,  had  the  move  to  be  made  over  again,  we 
would  not  have  taken  the  step.  That  early  love  has  never  grown 
cold.  As  I  have  already  intimated,  I  have  watched  with  unabat- 
ed interest,  and  heard  always  with  joy  of  your  steady  growth  and 
prosperity.  And  in  all  your  successes  and  achievements — in  all 
you  are  doing  for  the  upbuilding  of  Christ's  Kingdom  at  home 
and  its  extension  abroad,  I  most  heartily  congratulate  both  you 
and  your  pastor,  and  I  hope  that  the  second  century  of  the 
church's  history  may  outstrip  its  first  as  much  as  the  conclusion 
of  its  first  is  in  advance  of  its  beginning. 


A  GENERAL  HISTORY 

OF    THE 

Church  p.y  its  Present  Pastor,  Rev.   W.   W.   Moorhead,   D.    D., 
From  i8i,   Down  to  the  Pi^esent  Time. 


pastorate  of  w.   w.   moorhead. 

On  next  Monday,  April  23rd,  it  will  be  seventeen  years  since  I 
began  my  ministry  in  Greensburg.  My  first  sermon  was  preached  in 
the  church  in  April,  1862.  Bat  that  was  for  licensure,  and  not  with  a 
view  to  settlement.  The  next  time  I  preached  here  was  on  the  22nd 
of  January,  1871.  Mr.  Gill  had  resigned  the  charge  on  the  26th  of 
April  of  the  preceding  year,  and  for  about  nine  months  the  church 
had  been  candidaling,  and  so  had  several  of  the  ministers  hereabouts. 
It  was  a  good  time  for  me  to  appear  upon  the  scene.  The  church  was 
weary.  Nine  months  candidating  is  enough  to  turn  an  ordinary 
church  into  a  lunatic  asylum.  But  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Greens- 
burg not  being  an  ordinary  cine,  things  had  not  gone  that  far  yet. 
But  the  people  were  tired  hearing  new  sermons  out  of  old  barrels,  and 
so,  somewhat  after  the  manner  of  the  woman  who  married  the  man  to 
get  rid  of  him,  they  called  one  of  the  candidates  to  get  rid  of  the 
rest.  I  had  preached  them  a  sermon  on  Faith,  and  it  was  probably 
more  on  faith  than  on  the  sermon  that  they  gave  me  a  call.  Never 
having  sat  at  the  feet  of  Dr.  T.  R.  Ewing,  of  Blairsville  Seminary,  in 
the  study  of  mental  philosophy,  and,  therefore,  not  being  an  adept  at 
solving  all  the  subtleties  of  that  hidden  man,  the  mind,  I  have  never 
been  able  to  decide  certainly  whether  I  was  a  candidate  for  the  Greens- 
burg pulpit  or  not.  Perhaps,  like  the  modern  girl,  I  was  just  around 
visiting,  without  any  special  view  to  match  making,  and  yet  not  know- 
ing but  that  I  might  providentially  meet  my  fate.  xAt  all  events,  187 1 
wasn't  leap  year.  But  why  reason  on  the  subject?  You  know  that  a 
'"Call"  is  the  one  thing  a  minister  is  always  ready  to  attribute  to 
Providence,  and  sometimes  it  is  about  the  only  thing.  It  is  almost 
enough  to  take  one's  breath  to  listen  while  some  ministers  relate  how 
marvelously  their  calls  were  received,  and  one  would  be  led  to  think 
that  he  stood  on  the  borders  of  the  unseen. world  and  heard  the  rustle 
of  the  angel's  wings  who  carried  the  calls  direct  from  heaven,  if  he 
had  not  seen  these  same  ministers  digging  the  holes  and  planting  the 


1 03 

posts  and  stretching  the  wires  over  which  these  identical  calls  came. 
Hut,  candidate  or  no  candidate,  the  church  at  Greensburg  must  have 
thought  that  "Barkis  was  willin',"  for,  on  the  iSth  of  March,  after 
nearly  two  months  deliberation,  they  concluded  to  give  me  a  call,  and 
on  the  following  day,  Sabbath.  March  T9th,  i87i,a  call  was  made  out 
for  me  in  due  form.  The  salary  promised  in  the  call  was  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  per  aunum,  and  John  M.  Laird,  Ksq.,  and  J.  R.  McAfee, 
Esq.,  were  appointed  Commissioners  to  present  the  call  to  Presbytery. 
I  was  then  pastor  of  the  church  at  Camden,  now  called  Milan,  in  the 
Presbytery  of  Rock  River,  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  'I'he  Commis 
sioners  communicated  with  me  at  once,  informing  me  of  the  call,  and 
amomit  of  salary  promised,  and  also  intimating  that  the  congregation 
would  ]")robably  do  still  better  by  building  a  parsonage  in  the  near  fu- 
ture. This  intimation  was  soon  carried  into  effect,  and  only  for  about 
three  years  did  I  hire  a  house  and  pay  rent.  The  above  named  Com- 
missioners had  much  to  do  with  the  initi;d  movements  made  toward 
bringing  me  to  Greensburg,  and  on  them  and  Drs.  Donaldson  and 
Hill,  who  recommended  me  to  the  congregation,  must  lie  considera- 
ble of  the  responsibility  for  my  being  here.  'Squire  Laird  remained 
one  of  my  waru'est  friends  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Jannar\- 
25,  1887.  To  have  enjoyed  for  so  long  the  confidence  and  friendship 
of  so  wise  and  good  a  man  as  'Squire  Laird,  I  consider  one  of  the 
greatest  honors  of  my  life.  If  Mr.  McAfee  has  ever  repented  the 
part  he  took  in  bringing  me  to  Greensburg,  he  has  ne\er  said  so,  as 
far  as  I  have  heard.  In  his  paper  he  has  given  manv  kindly  notices  of 
my  ministry,  and  has  also  published  a  number  of  my  sermons,  to  the 
great  disgust  of  brother  Kennedy,  wh(j  cannot  appreciate  good  solid 
religious  reading. 

On  receiving  the  call  from  Greensburg,  [  resigned  my  charge  at 
(Camden,  and  was  dismissed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Rock  River  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Blairsville.  I  arrived  in  Greensburg  on  Saturday,  April 
22nd.  and  put  up  at  the  Kettering  (now  the  Zimmerman)  House.  1 
expected  to  begin  my  ministry  the  next  morning,  but  the  Rev.  S.  M. 
Glenn  being  present  preached  in  the  morning  and  I  preached  iii  th-- 
evening,  and  with  that  service  my  ministry  in  Greensburg  began. 

The  Presbytery  of  Blairsville  met  at  Beulah  on  the  following 
Tuesday.  At  that  meeting  I  was  received.  The  call  was  presented, 
placed  in  my  hands,  and  accepted.  It  was  attested  by  John  M.  Hast- 
ings, Moderator  of  the  meeting  at  which  it  was  made  out,  and  was 
signed,  by  order  of  the  congregation,  by  D.  VV.  Shryock,  Je.sse  Kil- 
gore,  James  Patterson,  R.  B.  Kenl\-,  and  Alexander  Keir,  Elders,  and 
by  R.  S.  Patterson  and  Will  Brown,  Trustees.  Besides  the  regular 
call  which  came  to  me  threnigh  the  Presbytery,  there  was  placed  in  mv 
hands  a  semi  legal  and  semi-ecclesias' iral  document  drawn  up  by  H. 
P.  Laird,  Esq.,  and  signed  by  liini^eK.  H.  H.  Zellers,  Morrison  Un- 
derwood, Will  Brown,  and  S.  R.  Patterson,  Trustees  This  paper 
was  supposed  to  be  more  bindiiig.m  the  congregation  in  the  matter  of 
salary  than  the  regular  form  of  <  all,  and  was,  therefore.  ])referred  by 
its  author.  However,  up  to  date,  the  services  of  a  lawyer  have  not 
been  needed  to  collect  the  salary.     It  has  always  been  paid  in  full  be- 


I04 

fore  the  end  of  the  ecclesiastical  year,  and  in  nearly  every  instance 
has  been  ready  for  the  ])astor  on  or  before  the  day  it  was  due.  The 
church's  record  in  this  respect,  for  the  last  seventeen  years,  has  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  been  excelled  by  any  congregation. 

My  installation  took  place,  accortling  to  the  order  of  Presby- 
tery, May  13,  if'iyi.  Rev.  George  Hill,  D.  D.,  presided,  preached, 
and  proposed  the  constitutional  question.  Rev.  James  D.  Moorhead, 
then  of  Plum  Creek,  but  now  for  many  years  pastor  at  Beaver  Falls, 
gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  James  A.  Marshall,  then  of 
Beulah,  now  President  of  a  college  at  Groton,  Dakota,  gave  the  charge 
to  the  people.  This  charge  must  have  been  a  good  one,  and  has  been 
well  remembered.  Of  the  one  to  the  pastor  and  of  its  effect  upon 
him,  I  will   leave  to  the  judgment  of  the  congregation. 

The  spring  I  came  to  Greensburg  the  church  reported  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  one  hundred  and  sixty  one  members.  But  by  the  time 
the  stragglers  all  got  in  and  reported  themselves  there  were  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six  persons  entitled  to  membership  in  187 1.  Brother 
Gill  and  the  Session  hid  buried  a  number  prematurely.  Perhaj)s  they 
thought  if  they  were  not  dead  they  ought  to  be  However,  the 
church  ought  to  have  full  credit  for  all  the  members  it  had  when  I  en- 
tered on  my  ministry. 

OUR    PASTOR. 

[Without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of  Rev.  Dr.  Moorhead,  the 
Session  of  the  Greensburg  congregation,  in  preparing  the  proceedings 
of  the  Centennial  for  publication,  obtained  the  promise  of  two  mem- 
bers of  Presbytery  to  give  a  short  biogrophical  sketch  of  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  D.  D.,  to  be  inserted  in  the  proceed- 
ings detailing  the  prominent  characteristics  of  those  comprising  this 
Session.  As  a  matter  of  course  the  body  of  this  discriptive  list  was 
|)repared  by  the  beloved  pastor  of  this  congregation,  but  that  relating 
to  the  pastor  himself,  was  the  work  of  two  members  of  the  Presbytery, 
both  of  whom  are  intimately  acquainted  with  him.  It  is  submitted, 
accompanied  with  the  foregoing  explanation,  and  is  as  follows  :] 

KEY.    W.    W.     MOORHEAD,     D.     D. 

A  sketch  of  the  life  and  work  of  the  present  pastor  of  the  church 
should  appear  in  connection  with  the  rest  of  the  members  of  Session, 
and  fitly  at  the  head. 

Mr.  Moorhead  was  born  on  the  28th  day  of  February,  1837,  on 
a  farm  adjoining  the  borough  of  Blairsville,  Indiana  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  life  work  has  been  a  striking  exemplification  of  the  adage 
that  "the  boy  is  the  father  of  the  man."  His  prominent  characteris- 
tics as  a  boy  were  personal  independence,  self-reliance,  and  a  disposi- 
tion to  do  with  his  might  whatever  his  hands  found  to  do.  His 
highest  standard  of  character  being  personal  worth  ;  neither  birth  nor 
station  entered  into    his    arithmetic.     The    raggedest    urchin    in  the 


neighborhood  found  in  him  a  friend,  if  there  were  only  in  his  compo- 
sition true  manliness.  On  the  other  hand,  the  assumption  of  superi- 
ority on  the  ground  of  wealth  or  family  connection,  was  regarded  by 
him  with  wholesome  and  dignified  contempt. 

Mr.  Moorhead  received  his  classical  education  at  Eldersridge  Acad- 
emy and  Jefferson  College,  and  his  theological  training  at  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary.  His  first  pastoral  charge  was  Camden  Mills, 
near  Rock  Island,  111.,  which  he  held  for  about  seven  years.  In  1870 
he  accepted  a  call  to  the  church  of  Greensburg,  where  he  has  labored 
faithfully  and  successfully  until  the  present  time,  constantly  growing 
in  the  esteem  of  his  people,  and  of  the  citizens  of  the  town.  Under 
his  ministry  the  church  has  grown  rapidly  in  numbers,  in  spirituality, 
and  in  all  Christian  activity.  It  was  largely  through  his  personal  in- 
fluence, and  earnest  labors,  that  the  erection  of  the  present  commodi- 
ous and  beautiful  church  edifice  was  undertaken  and  carried  to  com- 
pletion. 

As  a  man  and  a  Minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Mr.  Moor- 
head is  genial,  wise,  diligent,  able,  and  conscientious  He  prepares 
thoroughly  for  his  pulpit  work,  always  bringing  into  the  sanctuary 
beaten  oil.  As  a  consequeuce  of  this,  the  people  hear  him  gladly. 
His  style  of  composition  is  i)lain,  terse,  racy,  witty,  and  sufficiently 
ornate.  His  delivery,  though  not  moulded  according  to  any  of  the 
rules  of  rhetoric,  or  elocution  found  in  the  books,  so  well  corresponds 
with  his  style   that  he  must  fairly  be  characterized  as  eloquent. 

As  a  pastor  he  is  laborious  and  impartial,  giving  to  the  poor  and 
the  rich  alike  faithful  oversight.  He  is  full  of  tenderness  for  the 
afflicted,  charitable  in  his  estimate  of  character,  not  given  at  all  to 
censoriousness,  but  rather  to  the  language  of  commendation  and 
praise.  In  social  intercourse  he  is  always  agreeable,  prudent,  and 
happy;  a  good  listener  and  a  good  talker,  neither  silent  nor  loquac- 
ious. This  estimate  of  his  character  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of 
those  who  are  associated  with  him  in  the  care  and  government  of  the 
church. 

As  a  Presbyter  Mr.  Moorhead  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  his 
brethren,  esteemed  by  them  all  as  most  wise  in  counsel,  and  efficient 
in  action.  As  an  indication  of  this,  he  received  from  Hanover  College 
in  18S5,  the  lionorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Take  him  all  in 
all,  the  church  is,  and  may  well  be,  proud  of  him. 

It  only  remains  to  add  that  his  great  defect,  especially  annoying 
to  correspondents  and  printers,  is  his  execrable  chicography. 

THE    ELDERSHIP. 

The  Elders  of  the  church  when  I  came  here  were  James  Patter- 
son, Alexander  Kerr,  Jesse  Kilgore,  D.  W.  Shryock,  and  R.  B.  Kenly. 
Of  these  Messrs.  Patterson,  Kenly,  and  Kerr  are  dead.  Mr.  Shryock 
having  previously  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  was,  on  the  loth  of 
March,  1878,  dismissed  to  the  Reunion  Presbyterian  church  of  that 
place.  Having  returned  to  Greensburg  he  was  received  into  the 
church  by  letter,  October  8,  1881,  and  on  the  same  day  was  re-elected 
an  Elder  in   the  same.     Thomas  Patterson   (son  of  James)  and  James 


io6 

A.  Shields,  were  elected  Elders  January  19,  1878,  and  were  ordained 
and  installed  February  3,  1878.  On  October  8,  1881,  Henry  C. 
Boyd,  James  L.  McWilliams,  and  John  D.  Miller,  together  with  D. 
W.  Shryock,  as  mentioned  above,  were  elected  Elders,  and  on  Octo- 
ber 30,  1881,  Messrss.  McWilliams  and  Miller  were  ordained,  and, 
together  with  Messrs.  Boyd  and  Shryock,  previously  ordained,  were 
installed.  These  ten  men  have  been  the  Elders  since  I  came  to 
Greensburg  ;  but  only  one  of  them,  Jesse  Kilgore,  Esq.,  has  served 
continuously  during  my  entire  pastorate. 

James  Patterson  had  been  a  farmer.  He  was  an  Elder  at  Mingo 
and  Pleasant  Unity  before  coming  to  Greensburg.  He  was  elected 
an  Elder  here  January  9th,  1869.  He  was  an  old  man  and  ripe  for 
heaven  when  I  came.  He  was  about  as  good  as  men  ever  get  to  be  in 
this  world.     He  died  September  17,  1880. 

R.  B.  Kenly,  Esq.,  had  been  a  merchant,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  in  the  lumber  business.  He  had  been  an  Elder  in  the  New 
School  branch.  With  his  pastor  he  was  a  member  of  the  General  As- 
sembly which  met  in  St.  Louis  in  1874.  He  was  a  man  who  sought 
the  peace  of  the  church,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  members  of 
his  own  family,  and  by  those  who  enjoyed  his  friendship.  He  died 
March  9th,  1886. 

Alexander  Kerr  was  a  farmer.  He  was  ordained  and  installed 
Elder  April  4,  1862.  He  was  a  Scotchman,  rugged  of  body,  strong 
of  mind,  and  great  of  heart.  He  died  February  26th,  1888,  almost 
eighty-eight  years  of  age.  He  was  looking  forward  to  this  Centennial 
with  great  interest.  But  God  had  something  better  for  him  and  took 
him  to  a  grander  reunion.  He  had  the  instincts  of  a  gentleman,  the 
devotion  of  a  Christian,  and  was  a  typical  Presbyterian  elder. 

Jesse  Kilgore,  Esq.,  was  a  farmer,  but  now  lives  a  retired  life. 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  Elder  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Kerr, 
April  4,  1862.  He  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  and  large  family 
of  Westmoreland  county.  He  was  at  one  time  Connty  Treasurer. 
He  has  ever  been  a  man  whose  counsel  has  been  sought  by  his  neigh- 
bors, and  one  on  whose  judgment  they  could  rely  to  their  profit. 
Genial  in  manner,  full  of  humor,  sound  of  judgment,  and  of  unques- 
tioned business  integrity,  he  has  ever  been  a  source  of  strength  to  the 
church  and  a  help  to  the  pastor.  He  is  old  and  feeble  now,  but  his 
heart  is  cheered  with  the  love  of  God,  and  the  esteem  of  his  fellow 
men. 

D.  W.  Shryock  was  an  editor  and  banker,  besides  holding  a  num- 
ber of  public  offices,  some  of  which  have  already  been  referred  to. 
He  is  at  present  married  to  the  daughter  of  a  Lutheran  minister,  and 
yet  he  is  a  thorough  going  Presbyterian.  He  was  ordained  an  Elder 
in  1849,  while  yet  a  young  man,  and  has  served  this  church  in  that 
capacity  for  about  thirty  five  years,  more  than  eleven  of  which  he  was 
the  very  efficient  clerk  of  Session.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Ses- 
sion at  Mt.  Pleasant  for  a  short  time  while  a  member  of  the  church 
there.  He  has  been  twice  a  member  of  the  General  /Assembly.  He 
is  frequently  a  member  of  the    Synod  and  Presbytery,  and  while  not 


ro7 

much  of  a  speaking  member,  has  always  been  one  of  the  best  working 
members  in  these  bodies.  He  was  tor  a  long  time  leader  of  the  choir, 
and  for  many  years  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School.  His  hos- 
pitality in  entertaining  members  of  Synod  and  Presbytery,  and  other 
stray  Angels,  has  been  unbounded,  and  he  has  ever  been  willing  to 
bear  a  good  share  of  the  church's  financial  burdens,  and  to  do  his 
share  of  the  work. 

Thomas  Patterson  was  formerly  a  farmer,  and  is  now  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  He  is  the  son  of  James  Patterson,  a  former  Elder  spo- 
ken of.  He  is  a  worthy  son  of  a  worthy  father.  He  is  the  visiting 
member  of  the  Session,  and  has  a  monopoly  of  the  business.  In  call- 
ing on  the  sick,  the  aged  or  the  poor,  he  is  often  in  advance  of  the 
pastor.  The  church  probably  never  had  an  Elder  who  was  more  in- 
terested in  its  spiritual  welfare.  As  a  Sabbath  School  teacher,  as  in 
everything  else,  he  has  been  faithful  and  persevering. 

James  A.  Shields  is  a  hardware  merchant.  He  is  a  nephew  of  the 
pastor,  and  on  his  father's  side  belongs  to  a  long  line  of  Presbyterian 
elders,  running  through  the  churches  of  Congruity  and  New  Alexan- 
dria. He  is  at  least  James  the  Third  in  the  order  of  the  succession. 
He  was  young  in  years  and  church  meinbership  when  ordained  an 
Elder,  and  just  five  weeks  after  his  ordination  he  was  elected  Clerk  of 
Session,  which  position  he  has  held  ever  since,  and  no  exception  has 
ever  been  taken  to  his  minutes  by  Presbytery.  He  has  served  many 
years  as  Librarian  and  Secretary  of  the  Sabbath  School. 

Henry  C.  Boyd  is  a  farmer,  and  has  also  at  times  engaged  in 
other  branches  of  business.  He  was  an  Elder  in  Tyrone  churh,  in 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone.  His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Miller, 
so  long  one  of  the  very  substantial  Elders  of  Unity  and  brother  of 
Isaac  Miller  a  former  prominent  Elder  of  Greensburg.  Mr.  Boyd 
had  been  in  the  congregation  but  a  short  time  when  elected  Elder. 
His  life  and  character  must  have  preceded  him,  or  else  they  must  have 
become  rapidly  known  after  he  came.  With  a  warm  heart  and  a  cool 
head,  an  earnest  zeal  and  a  calm  judgment,  he  has  more  than  justified 
the  confidence  of  those  who  elected  him  a  Ruler  in  the  house  of  God. 
He  has  also  served  as  a  Sabbath  School  teacher.  No  man  did  more  to 
make  this  Centennial  a  success  than  Mr.  Boyd,  and  yet,  owing  to  a 
severe  illness,  he  is  not  permitted  to  enjoy  its  exercises.  This  is 
deeply  regretted  by  the  members  of  the  congregation,  by  whom  he  is 
greatly  beloved. 

John  Dickie  Miller  manages  a  farm,  and  is  also  Assistant  Cashier 
of  the  Merchants'  and  Farmers'  National  Bank.  He  is  the  only  son 
of  Isaac  Miller,  mentioned  above,  and  the  grandson  of  John  Dickie, 
one  of  Congruity's  former  Elders.  Like  Mr.  Shields,  he  was  young 
in  years  and  in  church  membership,  when  elected  to  the  Session,  but, 
like  the  former,  he  had  good  elder  blood  in  his  veins,  and  belonged 
to  the  true  succession.  Quiet  in  demeanor,  tender  in  feeling,  firm  of 
will,  and  eminently  wise  and  prudent,  he  has  more  than  justified  that 
election  to  the  eldership,  which,  at  that  time,  owing  to  his  modesty, 
so    greatly    surprised  himself.      He  is  the  bachelor  of  the  Session  and 


io8 

lives  with  his  mother  and  sisters  on  the  old  homestead,  two  miles  east 
of  town,  on  the  pike,  which  has  been  in  the  Miller  name  ever  since  it 
had  a  private  ownership. 

James  L.  Mc Williams  is  in  the  insurance  and  real  estate  business. 
He  was  raised  in  the  United  Presbyterian  church  He  is  the  go  ahead 
man  of  the  Session,  and  has  more  push  than  patience.  He  believes 
that  a  man  ought  to  be  a  Christian  before  he  joins  the  church,  and 
that  he  ought  to  act  like  one  afterward.  Being  an  insurance  agent,  he 
is  cautious  about  taking  any  bad  risks  on  the  souls  as  well  as  on  the 
property  of  men.  He  is  an  admirable  Sabbath  School  teacher,  and 
also  served  with  great  credit  for  two  years  as  Superintendent.  Besides, 
doing  well  whatever  he  is  elected  to  do,  he  is  the  man  who  generally 
does  the  things  which  ought  to  be  done,  and  which  other  people  leave 
undone. 

Such,  then,  have  been  the  members  of  Session  since  I  have  been 
pastor  of  this  church.  They  have  all  either  been  farmers  or  business 
men.  It  is  probably  not  customary  thus  to  write  up  the  living.  But 
it  is  a  long  time  till  the  next  centennial,  and  I  may  not  be  present  on 
that  occasion,  and  I  want  my  Session  to  go  on  record.  Besides,  I 
don't  believe  in  putting  all  a  man's  virtues  on  his  tombstone.  It  has 
been  said  that  the  only  good  Indian  is  a  dead  Indian,  and  one  would 
sometimes  think  that  was  true  of  other  people  as  well  as  of  Indians. 
Heaven  will  be  enough  for  a  man  after  he  is  dead,  and,  therefore,  if 
you  have  anything  good  to  give  him  give  it  to  him  while  he  is  living. 
Praise  on  a  tombstone  is  very  cold  comfort.  These  men  have  worked 
and  prayed  and  planned  with  me  for  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord,  and  I 
know  them  a  great  deal  better  than  the  man  will  know  them  who 
writes  the  history  for  the  next  centennial. 

THE  GROUNDS. 

The  lot  on  which  the  buildings  stand  is  i8i  feet  front  and  96^ 
feet  deep.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Main  street  ;  on  the  north  by 
Third  street  ;  on  the  south  by  the  property  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Maj.  Uncapher  and  occupied  at  present  by  Gov.  Latta,  and  on  the 
west  by  an  alley.  There  were  originally  three  lots  in  the  plot,  but  as 
bought  by  the  congregation  there  were  but  two  of  about  equal 
dimensions,  one  of  which  was  bought  for  the  church  and  the  other  for 
a  parsonage,  as  already  noted. 

THE  PARSONAGE. 

The  parsonage  was  built  under  the  general  superintendence  of 
General  Coulter,  in  1873  ^"d  1874,  and  the  pastor  and  his  family 
moved  into  it  September  17th  of  the  latter  year.  The  money  for  it 
was  raised  mainly  by  subscription,  except  the  invested  funds  already 
mentioned.  The  building  is  brick,  two  stories  high,  with  finished 
cellar  and  attic.  It  has  nine  rooms,  besides  bath  room,  clothes  room, 
and  a  large  front  hall.  It  is  heated  with  natural  gas.  It  cost 
originally  about  $6,000,  and  has  been  kept  in  good  repair  by  the 
congregation.  It  stands  on  the  upper  side  of  the  parsonage  lot. 
The  grounds  on  which  it  stands  was  once  part  of  a  lot  owned  at    one 


I09 

time  by  Dr.  Hacke.  My  old  friend,  his  son  William  H.  (the  Major), 
tells  me  he  used  to  hoe  potatoes  on  it.  If  he  was  like  most  boys,  and 
I  think  he  was,  then  he  was  no  doubt  glad  when  his  father  sold  it. 
When  1  came  to  Greensburg  the  spot  on  which  the  Major  once 
wrestled  with  a  hoe  handle  was  then  a  croquet  ground.  I  hat  to  the 
average  youth  would  probably  be  an  indication  of  the  progress  of  the 
age.  At  present  the  spot  is  used  for  raising  sermons  on.  It  is  not 
very  productive  in  that  line,  and  while  digging  around  a  text  I  some- 
times wonder,  as  doubtless  Bussy  Hacke  did  when  hoeing  around  a 
potato  hill,  whether  it  wouldn't  be  a  good  day  for  fishing.  It  was  in- 
tended to  build  a  stable  at  the  time  the  parsonage  was  built,  but  at 
the  suggestion  of  the  pastor  the  idea  was  abandoned.  As  he  after- 
ward manifested  more  of  a  taste  for  horsemanship,  a  stable  was  built 
on  the  parsonage  lot  in  1881,  the  money  for  it  being  secured  mainly 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Thomas  Patterson,  who  always  has  an  eye 
to  the  comfort  of  his  pastor. 

THE  CHURCH   BUILDINGS. 

The  church  in  which  1  began  my  ministry  here  was  the  one  built 
during  Dr.  Brownson's  pastorate,  but  which  he  left  before  entering. 
It  was  probably  never  formally  dedicated.  It  stood  about  the  centre 
of  the  church  lot.  The  main  audience  room,  together  with  the 
gallery,  would  seat  about  four  hundred. 

The  basement,  in  its  final  arrangement,  had  two  rooms.  It  was 
low  and  gloomy.  But  the  main  audience  room,  especially  after  the 
final  improvements  were  put  upon  it,  was  bright  and  cheery.  It  had 
a  vestibule  in  front  and  a  gallery  over  it,  where  the  choir  sat.  The 
improvements  referred  to  were  made  in  1875.  They  consisted  of  a 
new  roof,  the  painting  of  the  walls,  and  the  putting  in  of  new 
stained-glsss  windows.  When  these  improvements  were  made  it  was 
the  intention  to  enlarge  the  church  by  taking  out  the  front  wall  and 
extending  the  building  to  the  street,  but  the  idea  was  abandoned  as  it 
was  soon  discovered  that  this  would  only  afford  a  temporary  relief  in 
the  way  of  more  room,  and  that  nothing  short  of  a  new  church 
would  meet  the  increasing  demands  of  the  congregation.  The  last 
service  in  the  church  was  held  July  30th,  i882.  It  was  a  Com- 
munion Sabbath  on  which  it  was  held.  Dr.  Brownson  assisted  and 
preached  in  the  morning,  and  the  pastor  preached  a  farewell  sermon 
in  the  evening.  The  building  had  cost  about  three  thousand  dollars 
and  had  been  a  good  church  in  its  day  ;  but  its  day  was  over,  and  so 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1882  it  was  taken  down  to  give 
place  for  another  and  a  larger  one.  In  its  last  years  it  had  the  care 
of  Mr.  Jabez  B.  Colledge,  the  son  of  a  Presbyterian  minister,  who 
acted  as  sexton  If  indeed  cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness  then  Mr. 
Colledge  came  very  near  at  least  to  being  a  very  good  man.  He 
aimed  to  keep  the  church  sweet  and  clean,  and  if  there  was  any  fresh 
air  going  he  would  have  it  for  the  congregation.  He  was  no  respecter 
of  persons  and  occasionally  gave  some  offense,  but  it  was  generally,  if 
not  universally  agreed  that  his  aim  was  right,  and  at  all  events  the 
church  had  to  be  kept  clean  if  it  broke  up  the  congregation  to   do   it. 


On  more  than  one  occasion  did  he  place  a  spitton  under  the  nose  of 
some  lover  of  the  weed  with  more  force  than  elegance.  He  was 
taken  ill  while  working  about  the  new  church  and  carried  home,  and 
died  a  short  time  before  we  entered  the  lecture  room.  His  services, 
like  those  of  many  another  man,  were  not  fully  appreciated  until  after 
he  was  dead. 

THE    PRESENT  CHURCH    BUILDING. 

The  present  church  building  was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1883, 
and  was  completed  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1884.  The 
Messrs.  Fulton,  of  Irwin,  were  the  contractors.  On  Saturday,  January 
26,  1884,  we  entered  the  lecture  room.  The  first  service  held  in  it  was 
the  Sacrament  of  Baptism,  when  Margaret  Coulter,  Luella  M.  Cun- 
ningham, and  Charles  Mc.  Best  were  baptized.  The  first  named,  in- 
fant daughter  of  General  and  Mrs.  Emma  Coulter,  being  the  first  per- 
son baptized  in  the  church.  Following  the  Sacrament  of  Baptism, 
was  a  sermon  preparatory  to  the  Communion,  which  was  held  on  the 
day  following,  January  27,  1884.  ^'he  church  was  dedicated  Sabbath, 
September  21,  1884.  Rev.  Jf  mes  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  preached  the 
sermon;  Rev.  Alexander  Donaldson,  D.  D.,  offered  the  dedicatory 
prayer.  The  pastor.  Rev.  VV.  W.  Moorhead,  conducted  the  formal  ded- 
ication services,  and  Rev.  W.  F.  Ulery,  of  the  Lutheran  church,  Rev. 
VV.  H.  Gill,  and  Rev.  E.  H.  Dickinson,  took  part  in  conducting  the 
devotional  services.  Mr.  Gill  preached  in  the  evening.  The  church 
is  brick,  with  stone  trimmings.  When  completed  and  finished  it  cost 
about  thirty-seven  tliousand  dollars.  On  the  first  floor  there  are  a 
main  Sabbath  School  room,  a  Bible  class  room,  and  a  Primary  class 
room.  These  are  separated  by  glass  windows  hung  on  weights,  thus 
affording  facility  for  easy  communication.  There  is  also  on  the  same 
floor  a  study  for  the  pastor  and  a  furnace  room.  This  story  is  four- 
teen feet  high.  The  main  entrances  are  from  Main  and  Third  streets. 
The  main  audience  room  seats  eight  hundred  on  its  first  floor,  and  two 
hundred  more  can  be  seated  in  the  gallery,  making  the  full  seating  ca- 
pacity of  the  room  one  thousand.  The  pulpit  is  in  the  side  of  the 
church  with  a  recess  behind  it  for  a  choir  and  organ.  The  entrances 
to  this  room  are  through  a  tower  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Main 
streets,  and  through  another  on  Third  street.  There  is  also  a  back 
entrance  to  the  pulpit  and  choir  gallery.  Three  immense  stained  glass 
windows  one  at  each  end  and  one  fronting  the  pulpit,  are  the  main  fea- 
tures of  the  room.  It  is  lighted  with  gas,  and  heated  with  steam.  The 
church  is  very  satisfactory  to  the  congregation,  and  has  been  much  ad- 
mired by  others.  The  bell  which  hangs  in  the  tower  was  taken  from 
the  cupola  of  the  former  church.  It  was  bought  from  Andrew  Me- 
neely,  West  Troy,  New  York.  It  was  shipped  October  22nd,  1850,  to 
John  McClelland,  Esq.  It  weighed  634  pounds,  and  cost  about  $200. 
It  was  only  warranted  for  one  year,  but  for  more  than  thirty-eight 
years  it  has  continued  to  call  the  worshipers  to  the  house  of  God.  It 
has  a  sweet,  clear  tone,  and,  as  becomes  a  Presbyterian  "bell,  it  gives 
no  uncertain  sound.  The  property  of  the  church  is  now  probably 
worth  about  sixty  thousand  dollars. 


1883— 


COURTF.SIKS  RECEIVED    FROM    OTHER    CHURCHES    AND    FROM  THE  COUNTY 

COMMISSIONERS. 

While  repairing  our  church  in  1873,  several  of  the  churches  in 
the  town  extended  us  an  invitation  to  occupy  their  houses  of  worship. 
We  had  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  four  services  ;  the  United 
Brethren  four ;  Second  Reformed  three,  and  Zion's  Lutheran  two. 
While  building  the  new  church  we  occupied  the  Court  House  for  Sab- 
bath services,  and  also  for  Sabbath  School,  for  about  seventeen  months. 
We  had  preaching  in  the  court  room,  and  used  it  also  for  the  main 
school.  We  had  the  arbitration  room  for  the  primary  department, 
and  the  grand  jury  room  for  the  Bible  class,  for  which  the  Commis- 
sioners charged  us  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  only  about  enough 
to  pay  for  the  light  and  heat.  At  first  we  held  our  weekly  prayer 
meeting  in  the  Covenanter  church,  but  the  old  seats  in  that  church 
were  most  too  straight  in  the  back  even  for  Presbyterians,  and  then 
the  traditional  church  mouse  was  not  only  poor,  but  he  was  also  nu- 
merous, and  sometimes  disturbed  the  devotions  of  the  worshipers,  and 
so  about  the  beginning  of  1883  we  secured  the  lecture  room  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  church  for  our  prayer  meetings,  and  occupied  it  for  about  a 
year.  I  greatly  enjoyed  preaching  in  the  Court  House,  and  a  number 
of  persons  dropped  in  there  occasionally  to  hear  the  Gospel  who  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  were  seen  in  a  church.  I  think  we  did  a  good  work 
while  building,  and  yet  I  hav'nt  much  faith 'in  that  religion  that  pre- 
fers  a  public  liall  to  God's  own  house. 

TRUSTEES. 

The  Trustees  during  my  pastorate  have  been  as  follows : 

187 1 — H.  P.  Laird,  Esq.,  Morrison  Underwood,  Will  Brown, 
Harry  Zellers,  S.  Ralston  Patterson. 

1872— Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  Will  Brown,  John  M.  Laird,  Esq., 
John  Richie,  Harry  Zellers. 

1873-74 — Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  John  M.  j.aird,  Esq.,  William 
Russell,  Samuel  N.  Vance,  ¥.  M.  McConaughy,  M.  D. 

1875-76-77 — Gen.  Richard  Coulter.  Samuel  N.  Vance,  William 
Russell,  Solomon  Trauger,  E.  F.  Houseman,  Esq. 

1878-79, — Col.  James  Armstrong,  James  K.  Stewart,  James  L. 
McWilbams  James  A.  Siiields,  George  Kirker. 

1880 — Col.  James  Armstrong,  James  L.  McWilliams,  James  A. 
Shields,  Daniel  Welty,  Biddle  Patterson. 

1881 — Col.  fames  Armstrong,  James  L  McWilliams,  fames  \. 
Shields,  Daniel  Welty,  John  D.  Miller. 

1882-1883 — Col.  James  Armstrong,  Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  D. 
W.  Shryock,  James  L.  McWilliams,  James  S.  Moorhead,  Esq. 

1884 — Col.  James  .\rmstrong.  Gen.  Richard  Coulter,  James  A. 
Shields,  James  L.  McWilliams,  James  S.  Moorhead,  Esq 

1885-86-87— Col.  James  .-Vrm>troiig,  James  S.  Moorhead,  Esq., 
Lucian  W.  Doty,  Esq.,  Robert  R.  Young,  H.  F.  Stark. 

1888 —Col.  James  Armstrong,  Lucian  W.  Doty,  Escp,  Robert  R. 
Young,  H.  F.  Stark,  Solomon  Trauger. 


112 


SOME  BUSINESS  MATTERS  CONNECTED  WITH  THESE  BOARDS. 

H.  P.  Laird,  Esq.,  was  President  of  the  Board  of  1871^  and  Mor- 
rison Underwood  was  Treasurer.  The  finances  of  the  church  were 
conducted  on  business  principles.  At  the  close  of  their  term  of  office 
the  pastor's  salary  was  paid  in  advance  for  the  following  quarter,  and 
Mr.  Laird  in  his  report  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
Treasurer.  But  Mr.  Underwood  was  efficient  always  and  everywhere. 
'I'he  Board  of  1873-74  built  the  parsonage  ;  that  of  1875-76  appointed 
Ushers,  and  ever  since  that  time  when  worshipping  in  the  church 
there  have  been  present  young  men  to  show  strangers  and  occasional 
hearers  to  seats.  This  Board  also  repaired  the  church.  This  has 
already  been  referred  to.  The  times  were  rather  hard  just  then,  but 
owing  to  the  faithfulne.ss  of  Mr.  Solomon  Trauger,  a  member  of  the 
Board,  who  also  acted  as  Collector,  some  old  debts  were  collected  and 
the  finances  were  kept  in  good  order.  You  might  as  well  attempt  to 
collect  ground  rents  off  the  occupants  of  a  cemetery  as  to  collect  pew 
rents  off  some  pew  holders ;  but  Mr.  Trauger  collected  some  old 
debts  that  no  business  man  would  have  taken  at  five  cents  on  the 
dollar  in  confederate  money,  for  which  he  deserves  to  be  canonized, 
and  I  hereby  canonize  him. 

The  Board  of  187S-79  remodeled  the  basement  and  arranged  tor 
a  suitable  primary  class  room.  The  Board  of  1881  appointed  John 
-Armstrong,  Esq.,  J.  R.  Mf-Afee,  Esq.,  and  James  S.  Moorhead,  Escp , 
a  committee  to  examine  and  if  necessary  procure  an  amendment  to 
the  charter  of  the  church.  In  1884  an  amendment  was  obtained 
through  Judge  James  A  Hunter,  by  which  the  church  was  allowed  to 
hold  real  estate  to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  such 
personal  property  as  may  be  acquirei].  The  Board  of  1882-83  erected 
the  new  church  and  the  Board  of  1884  completed  it. 

At  a  congregational  meeting  held  July  10,  1886,  Mr.  H.  C. 
Boyd  being  Chairman  and  J.  A.  McCurdy,  Esq.,  being  Secretary,  on 
motion  of  John  D.  Miller  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to  raise  the 
pastor's  salary  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
This,  with  the  free  use  of  the  parsonage,  which  he  had  from  the  time 
he  entered  it,  in  1874,  made  his  salary  worth  eighteen  hundred  dollars 
a  year.  At  this  same  meeting,  on  motion  of  John  Armstrong,  Esq., 
the  pastor  was  granted  a  vacation  from  that  time  till  the  first  of 
September.  On  motion  of  John  M.  Laird,  Esq.,  it  was  decided  to 
put  natural  gas  in  the  parsonage  for  heating  purposes.  The  Board  of 
1886  also  put  shutters  on  most  of  the  windows  and  built  the  portico  in 
front,  besides  repainting  the  outside  woodwork.  The  Board  of  18S7 
elected  John  D.  Miller  as  its  Treasurer. 

USHERS. 

The  following  persons  have  acted  as  Ushers  :  VV.  Burrell  Vance, 
Frank  Fisher,  Biddle  Patterson,  Will  Laird,  James  A.  Shields, 
Thomas  Patterson,  James  McWilliams,  Walt  Roley,  Alex.  Guffey. 
The  present  ushers  are  Joseph  F.  Guffey,  Audley  Black,  Will  J). 
Hays,  Harry  N.  Yont. 


113 


SEXTONS. 


Joshua  Hutchinson  and  taniily  served  as  sextons  from  1871  to 
1878,  at  a  sahu-y  of  seventy  five  (h)llars  per  annum. 

Jabez  B.  Colledge  served  as  sexton  from  1878  until  he  died, 
September  11  1883.  The  highest  salary  he  received  was  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  dollars,  together  with  half  a  pew  free  of  rent, 
per  annum.  His  son  William  served  as  sexton  from  the  death  of  his 
father  till  near  the  close  of  1885,  when  he  resigned.  His  service  was 
in  the  new  church.  During  his  time  the  sala^ey  was  raised  to  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  year. 

John  W.  Parks  served  from  the  latter  part  of  1885  to  the  latter 
part  of  1886.  He  received  a  salary  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
per  annum. 

Enoch  Sarver  served  as  sexton  from  the  latter  part  of  1886  until 
Aprd  15,  1887. 

Mrs.  Eliznbeth  Hollingsworth  and  her  brother,  John  Young,  be- 
came sextons  April  15,  1887,  at  a  salary  of  two  hundred  dollars, 
which  has  since  been  increased  to  two  hundred  and  forty  dollars. 
The  reduction  in  sexton's  salary  was  made  on  account  of  the  intro- 
duction of  natural  gas  instead  of  coal  as  fuel,  thereby  lightening  the 
labor  considerably. 

S.4BBATH    SCHOOLS. 

The  following  persons  have  been  officers  in  the  school.  VV.  W. 
Moorhead,  pastor.  I  attended  the  school  regularly  and  took  part  in 
teaching  or  in  superintending  until  my  sickness  in  1884.  In  1885  I 
assisted  some  in  conducting  the  services.  Since  the  beginiiing  of 
1886  I  have  taken  no  part  in  the  school.  This  has  not  been  for  want 
of  inclination,  but  for  want  of  strength.  However,  I  am  the  pastor 
of  the  school  and  expect  to  be  as  long  as   I  am  pastor  of  the  church. 

Will  Brown  was  Superintendent  when  I  took  charge  of  the  church 
and  continued  in  that  position  till  the  close  of  1874.  E.  F.  House- 
nian,  Esq.,  then  became  Superintendent  and  continued  in  the  office 
until  Janury,  i''S85.  He  served  here  and  at  Rehoboth  almost  continu- 
ously for  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  Frank  Stark  acted  as  Superin- 
tendent during  1885,  and  has  been  Assistant  Sup:irintendentever  since. 
He  is  a  man  who  can  be  full  of  secular  busine.ss  and  successful,  and  at 
the  same  time  be  an  earnest  worker  in  the  church.  James  L.  McWill- 
iams  .vas  Sui:)erintendent  in  1  S86  and  1887,  as  referred  to  elsewhere. 
Paul    H.  Gaither,  Esq.,  is  the  present  Su])erintendent. 

LIBRARIANS. 

The  Librarians  have  b.-en  :  F.  V.  B.  Laird,  Will  Laird,  Augustus 
D.  Welty,  James  A.  Shields,  Clymer  Painter,  D  S.  Ferguson,  Walt 
Roley,  Will  McWilliams,  Lloyd  Kinney,  Dr.  George  Culbertson. 


114 


SECRETARIES. 


Miss  Bell  Armstrong,  W.  Burrell  Vance,  A.  D.  Welty.  James   A. 
Shields  (an  elder.) 

IREASURERS. 

Miss  Bell  Armstrong,  Miss  Ella  Woods  (now  Mrs.  Ca|)t.  John  B. 
Keenan),  A.  D.  Welty. 

TEACHERS. 

Prof.  J.  M.  Foster,  (a  teacher  in  the  j)ublie  schools),  Miss  Emily 
Drum,  Miss  Bell  Armsrong,  Miss  Sparks  Brown  (Mrs.  J.  R.  Patterson), 
Miss  Emily  Montgomery,  Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Miss  Louisa  McAfee 
(Mrs.  John  Kirker),  dead,  James  R.  McAfee,  Esq.,  Ralston  Patterson, 
Miss  Kate  Steck  (Mrs.  Robert  Ford),  Miss  Lizzie  Shryock  (dead  ), 
Miss  Mary  Kilgore  (Mrs.  I'erry"),  Miss  Mary  J.  Patterson  (Mr.->.  James 
White),  Miss  Jennie  Culbertson  (dead),  E.  F.  Houseman,  Esq.,  Miss 
Anna  Houseman  (Mrs.  Rev.  R.  H.  Fulton),  Miss  Jennie  Berlin  (Mrs. 
James  B.  Robinson),  Miss  Agnes  Kirker,  Biddle  Patterson.  Miss  Jen- 
nie Black,  Miss  Nannie  Kenly  (Mrs.  Robert  Hughaii),  Miss  Ella 
Woods  (Mrs.  Capttain  John  B.  Keenan),  Miss  Minnie  Trauger  i  Mr>. 
Dr.  Kauierer),  Miss  Hannah  Patterson,  Mrs.  D  W.  Shryock  (teacher 
of  colored  class).  Miss  Mary  J.  Kirkwood,  Miss  Celia  Houseman 
(Mrs.  A.  D.  Welty),  Miss  Sadie  Algire,  Mrs.  Laura  Mace,  W.  W. 
Moorhead  (pastor;,  Mrs.  W.  W  Moorhead  (i)astor's  wife),  Miss  Mary 
Culbertson  (Mrs.  Prussia  M.  Hill).  James  L  Mr  Williams,  'I'homas 
P.itterson,  Colonel  John  Black,  Miss  Maggie  Black  (Mrs.  Robert 
Herbert),  dead,  Miss  Anna  Dobson,  dead,  Mi.ss  Lizzie  Armstrong, 
Miss  Nannie  Kilgore  (Mrs.  McBride  Sloan),  Mrs,  Carrie  Bray, 
Daniel  Welty,  Mrs.  F.  V.  B.  Laird,  Josiah  Maxwell,  Miss  Cvirrie 
Black  (also  teacher  in  primary  department),  Henry  C.  Boyd,  Mi- 
chael R.  Mtanor,  Miss  Ida  M.  Hojje,  Mrs.  Lucian  W.  Doty,  Robert 
R.  Young,  Miss  Anna  Johnston  (Mrs.  Wni.  C.  Peoples  and  grand- 
daughter of  Jesse  Kilgore,  Esq.),  Miss  Mattie  B.  Moorhead  (pastor's 
daughter),  Miss  Anna  McCullogh  (great  grand-daughter  of  H011.  Jas. 
Brady.  Married  in  the  church  April  5,  1888,  to  Denna  C.  Ogclen, 
Esq.),  Frank  Stark,  Miss  Anna  Butterfield.  Miss  Jennie  Hodge  (suc- 
cessor to  Mrs.  Shryock  in  teaching  colored  class).  Miss  Maggie 
Hodge,  Mrs.  Rev.  E  H.  Dickinson,  Josepli  A.  McCurdy,  Esq., 
Cyrus  N.  Stark,  Miss  Agnes  Montgomery,  Miss  Anna  M<  Causland 
(Mrs.  Dr.  H.  G.  Lomison,  and  great  grand-daughter  of  Hon. 
James  Brady),  Miss  Maggie  Gallagher  (Mrs.  Duncan  Wtlty),  Miss 
Mattie  Logan,  D.  W.  Shryock,  Miss  Kizzie  Armstrong,  Miss  Carrie 
Painter,  Paul  H.  Gaither,  Esq.,  Cyrus  T.  Loig.  Miss  Laura  C. 
Cochran.  Miss  S.  E.  Machesney,  Mrs.  Jane  Brady  McCurdy  (daughter 
■of  Col.  James  and  Rachel  Armstrong  and  wife  of  Josej^h  A.  McCur- 
dy, Esq.),   dead,   Richard    M.  J.    Zahnizer. 

OFFICERS    AND    TEACHERS    SINCE    JANUARY,     l8'S'S. 

Paul  H.  Gaither,  Esq.,    Superintendent;     Frank    Siark,  Assistant 
Superintendent  ;     Dr.    George    Culbertson,    Librarian  ;     Miss    Hettie 


115 

Brown,  Assistant  Librarian  ;  James   A.   Shields,   Secretary  ;   James  L. 
McWilliams,  Treasurer. 

TEACHERS. 

Cyrus  T.  Long  (teaf:her  of  Bible  class).  Miss  Lizzie  Armstrong 
(daughter  of  John  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.),  James  L.  McWilliams,  M. 
R  Meanor,  Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Miss  Mary  Colledge,  Miss  Bell  Arm- 
strong (daughter  of  John  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Esq.),  Miss  Alberta  Cline, 
Miss  Agnes  Montgomery,  Miss  S.  A  Brownson,  Miss  Hannah  Patter- 
son (daughter  of  James  Patterson,  elder),  Miss  Maggie  Hodge,  Miss 
Laura  C.  Cochran,  Miss  Carrie  Painter,  Miss  Mattie  Logan,  Miss  E. 
S.  Macliesney,  Miss  Ida  M.  Hope,  Frank  Stark,  Joseph  A.  McCurdy, 
Miss  Kizziah  Armstrong  ulaughter  of  Jno.  Armstrong,  Jr.  Esq.),  Miss 
Mary  Joe  Moore,  Richard  M.  J.  Zahnizer.  Sevi  n  members  of  Mr, 
Zahnizer's  classof  young  ladies  united  with  the  church  at  the  Centen- 
nial Communion. 

SABBATH    SCHOOL    CHOIR. 

John  R.  Francis  (^leaderj,  Miss  Mary  Bray  (organist),  Charles 
Ulery  (cornetist),  John  Murphy  (flutist).  Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Miss  E. 
S.  Machesney,  Miss  Sadie  Bray,  Miss  Laura  Cochran,  Henry  Greena- 
walt,  and  Harry  Fisher. 

This,  the  main  department  of  the  school,  has  had  an  average  an- 
nual enrollment,  including  the  Bible  class,  of  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty. 

PRIMARY    CLASS. 

When  I  came  to  Greensburg  this  class  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Judge 
Logan.  She  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Lizzie  Brown.  August  i6,  1874, 
Miss  Maria  McAfee  took  charge  of  it,  and  during  her  absence  in  the 
West,  June  17,  1887,  Mrs.  J.  R.  McAfee  took  the  class, 

PRIMARY  DEPARTMENT. 

November  11,  1876,  Mrs.  McAfee  became  Superintendent  of  the 
school  and  it  was  made  a  department  with  assistant  teachers.  There 
have  been  Miss  Maria  McAfee,  Miss  Lucy  Kenly,  Miss  Mary  J. 
Thomas  (Mrs.  James  Felton)  dead.  Miss  Hattie  Miller  (Mrs.  R.  F. 
Glenn),  Miss  Kate  Thomas,  Miss  Carrie  Foster,  Miss  Kate  Roley 
(Mrs.  George  Blank),  Miss  Sallie  Black,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Boyd,  Miss  Carrie 
Black,  Mrs.   Frank  Stark,   Assistants. 

LIBRARIANS. 

Miss  Kate  Roley  (Mrs.  Geo.  Blank),  Miss  Jennie  Hodge. 

The  Primary  Department  since  January,  1888:  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mc- 
Afee, Superintendent ;  Miss  Maria  McAfee,  Organist  ;  Assistants,  Miss 
Sallie  Black,  Miss  Carrie  Black,  Miss  Kate  Thomas. 

This  Department  for  some  years  past  has  had  an  average  attend- 
ance of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

Teachers  meetings  have  been  maintained  part  of  the  time. 


ii6 


MISSION    SABRATH    SCHOOLS. 


Besides  the  regular  school  held  in  the  church,  Mrs.  J.  R.  McAfee 
held  a  primary  Sabbath  School  in  her  home  in  Ludwick  before  she  en- 
tered on  the  primary  work  in  the  church,  June  17th  1877. 

Mrs.  Carrie  Bray  after  this  held  a  Mission  School  in  her  home,  in 
Ludwick,  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  to  which  a  large  number  of  the 
neighboring  children  came,  and  to  whom  she  gave  Christmas  treats  on 
several  occasions. 

Mrs.  Louisa  Little,  assisted  by  others,  maintained  a  Mission 
School  at  Radebaugh,  in  the  school  house  for  some  time,  and  in  the 
minutes  of  the  Woman's  Missioinary  Society  for  July  i,  1875,  ^  dona- 
tion of  $3  22  is  reported  from  this  school. 

All  these  women  were  members  of  this  church,  and,  although  the 
schools  were  in  no  sense  denominational,  yet  their  work  deserves  a 
place  in  this  history.  For,  atter  all,  we  care  more  to  tell  what  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Greensburg  has  done  for  Christ  and  for  the  com- 
munity, than  simply  to  relate  what  \t  has  done  for  itself. 

SOME  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  SCHOOL  AND    SO!\lE    OF    THE    WORK  DONE 
AND  RIlSULTS  ATTAINED. 

The  church  sustains  the  schools,  supplying  them  with  books  and 
papers  and  lesson  leaves,  and  furnishes  the  teachers  with  the  Westtiiin- 
ster  Teacher.  The  International  series  of  lessons  furnished  by  the 
Board  are  used.  The  schools  contribute  to  all  the  Boards  of  the 
church.  When  the  new  house  was  built  they  contributed  a  large  sum 
towards  furnishing  their  rooms. 

We  seek  to  have  the  children  commit  to  memory  the  Shorter 
Catechism,  and  have  always  endeavored  to  have  them  commit  the 
Scriptures  to  memory.  Rewards  have  occasionally  been  offered,  and 
Christmas  treats  and  summer  excursions  have  several  times  been  given. 
But  the  schools  have  not  depended  on  these  things  to  maintain  an  in- 
terest. For  this  we  depend  more  on  faithful  attendance  and  good 
work  done  by  officers  and  teachers,  and  probably  few  schools  have 
ever  had  better  or  more  faithful  officers  and  teachers  than  these. 

On  December  30th,  1873,  ^  teachers'  meeting  was  organized, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  a  \t\\  short  intervals,  has  been  maintained 
ever  since.  It  has  been  conducted  mainly  by  the  pastor,  but  at  the 
present  is  under  the  leadership  of  the  Superintendent,  Paul  H.  Gaither, 
Esq.,  who  has  proved  himself  very  efficient  in  the  position  to  which 
he  has  been  elected. 

On  October  5th,  1S77,  a  Social  was  organized  in  the  interest  of 
the  schools.  It  was  carried  on  for  a  time  with  considerable  success 
and  some  profit,  but  it  was  finally  given  up.  It  may  be  a  good  thing 
for  the  Sabbath  School  and  Church  to  furnish  social  entertainment 
and  suitable  amusement  ior  the  people,  but  it  is  a  very  difficult  under- 
takiiiii. 


117 

The  schools  were  probably  never  in  a  better  condition  than  at 
present,  and  could  the  ]mous  women  who  organized  the  first  Sabbath 
School  in  Greensburg  in  1816,  look  in  upon  these  schools  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  they  would  be  grateful  to  God  for  what  he  has  wrought  from 
that  beginning. 

PRAYER    MKETINGS. 

The  weekly  prayer  meeting  which  was  in  existence  when  1  came 
to  Greensburg  is  still  maintained. 

On  Thanksgiving  evening,  November  26,  1874,  a  young  men's 
prayer  meeting  was  organized.  Mr.  Ralston  Patterson  led  the  meet- 
ing. The  others  present  were  Robert  Berry,  Robert  Ellis,  Biddle 
l^attersun,  John  Kirker,  George  Kirker,  Michael  Meanor,  and  the 
pastor.  This  meeting  continued  as  a  young  men's  prayer  meeting 
until  December  6,  1S85,  whtn  it  was  changed  to  a  young  ]jeoi)le's 
prayer  meeting,  and  so  continues.  It  meets  on  Sabbath  evening  be- 
fore public  worship. 

December  10,  1875,3  Cottage  Prayer  Meeting  was  organized  in 
Ludwick,  at  the  house  of  J.  R.  McAfee,  Esq.  This  was  known  as  the 
"Ludwick  Prayer  Meeting,"  and  was  held  from  house  to  house,  usu- 
ally on  Friday  evenings.  During  the  protracted  illness  of  the  pastor 
during  the  summer  of  1884,  the  meeting  was  discontinued  and  has 
never  been  resumed. 

THE    CHURCH    CHOIR 

When  I  came  to  Greensburg  the  choir  did  not  seem  to  have  any 
leader.  Mr.  Daniel  Welty  had  general  charge  of  it,  and  Will  Laird, 
though  he  did  not  sing,  yet  looked  after  the  interest  of  those  who  did, 
and  saw  that  the  choir   meetings  went  on. 

The  women  singers  were  Miss  Kate  Laird,  Miss  Louisa  McAfee, 
Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Miss  Bell  Armstrong,  Mrs.  Mattie  Welty,  and 
Miss  Sparks  Brown.  .The  men  singers  were,  Daniel  Welty,  F.  V.  B. 
Laird,  James  B.  Welty,  Augustus  D.  Welty,  and    Ralston    Patterson. 

Other  women  singers  have  been.  Miss  Nannie  Kilgore  (Mrs.  Mc- 
Bride  Sloan),  Miss  Maggie  Black  (Mrs.  Robert  W.  Herbert,  one  of  the 
sweetest  and  most  artless  of  singers).  Miss  Sallie  Black,  Miss  Mattie  R. 
Jones  (wife  of  John  K.  Johnston  grandson  of  Jesse  Kilgore,  Esq.), 
Miss  Anna  Houseman  (Mrs.  Rev.  R.  H.  Fulton),  Miss  Celia  House- 
man (Mrs.  A.  D.  Welty),  Miss  Kate  Steck  (Mrs.  Robert  Ford),  Miss 
Lizzie  Cherry  (Mrs.  Henry  Greenawalt),  Miss  Lizzie  Highberger 
(Mrs.  David  Kilgore),  Miss  Nannie  Kenly  (Mrs.    Robert   Hughan.  ) 

Other  men  singers:  John  G.  Kirker,  John  M.  Peoples,  Es(].,  J. 
A.  McCurdy,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  Portzer. 

E.  F.  Houseman,  Esq.,  became  leader  soon  after  my  pastorate 
began  and  continued  in  that  position  until  about  a  year  ago  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  John  R.  Francis.  Mr.  Francis  resigned  a  short 
time  ago  and  has  been  succeeded  by  John  Young,  who  is  the  leader  at 
the  present  time. 


ii8 


PLAYERS    ON    INSTRUMENTS. 


There  have  been  as  organists,  Miss  Emily  Montgomery,  Miss 
Anna  Houseman,  Miss  Maria  McAfee,  Mrs.  D.  W.  Shryock,  and  Geo 
W.  Pooler;  cornetists,  Albert  Francis,  Samuel  P.  Brown,  and  Charles 
Ulery  ;   flutist,  John   Murphy. 

OCCASIONAL  PLAYERS  FOR  CHUKCH,  PRAYER  MEETING  OR  SABBATH  SCHOOL. 

Miss  Anna  Dobson,  Miss  Celia  Houseman,  Miss  Lulu  Philips 
(Mrs.  S.  W.  Caldwell),  Miss  Carrie  Black,  |ohn  R.  Francis,  and  Mrs. 
John  R.  Francis. 

THE    PRESEN'l'    CHURCH    CHOIR. 

Geo.  W.  Pooler,  organist  ;  Charles  Ulery,  and  Sam  P.  Brown, 
corneters  ;  John  Murphy,  flutist. 

Women  singers  :  Miss  Lizzie  Kilgore,  Miss  Kate  Thomas,  Miss 
Carrie  Black,  Miss  E.  S.  Mechesney,  Miss  Laura  Cochran,  Miss  Min- 
nie Good,  Miss  Sallie  Curns,  Mi>s  Brittamoite  Curns. 

Men  singers  :  John  Young,  leader  ;  John  D.  Miller,  Henry 
Greenawalt,  John  L.  Hood. 

In  the  seventeen  years  now  drawing  to  a  close  there  never  has 
been  so  much  even  as  a  misunderstanding  between  the  choir  and  the 
pastor.  Although  a  voluntary  one,  yet  the  choir  has  never  failed  the 
congregation  at  any  regular  church  service. 

When  Miss  Emily  Montgomery,  who  had  played  the  organ  for  a 
number  of  years  in  church,  prayer  meeting,  and  Sabbath  school,  re- 
moved to  Johnstown,  some  members  of  the  congregation  presented 
her  with  a  gold  watch,  as  a  slight  token  of  their  appreciation  of  her 
services. 

The  present  organist  is  paid  a  small  salary.  The  services  of  all 
the  players  and  singers  have  been  highly  appreciated  by  the  congrega- 
tion and  pastor,  though  this  appreciation  may  not  always  have  assum- 
ed any  tangible  form. 

woman's    MISSIONARY    SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  Sept.  2d,  1874.  The  first  three  Ar- 
ticles of  the  first  Constitution  were  as  follows  : 

Art.  I.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  Greensburg  auxiliary  of 
the  W.  F.  M.  S.  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Art.  2.  Its  object  shall  be  to  gather  missionary  intelligence  ;  to 
create  and  (oster  a  missionary  spirit  among  the  women  of  the  church, 
and  to  aid  the  general  society  in  sending  to  foreign  fields  female  mis- 
sionaries, Bible  readers,  and  teachers  who  shall  labor  among  heathen 
women    and  children. 

Art.  3.  Any  person  may  become  a  member  oi'  the  society  by 
the  payment  of  one  dollar  annually. 


119 

Articles  i  and  2  were  afterward  so  amended  as  to  include  in  the 
name  and  objects  of  the  society  the  idea  of  Home  Missions. 

OFFICERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY. 

The  first  officers  of  the  society  were  as  follows:  Mrs.  VV.  VV . 
Moorhead,  President;  Mrs  J.  R.  Mc  Vtee,  Secretary,  and  Mis-.  Ann 
Mcl'ausland,  Treasuier. 

SUBSEi;)UENr    OFFICERS. 

From  Sej^tember,  i^"]^  to  September,  1876:  Mrs.  W.  VV.  Moor 
head,  President  ;  Miss  Emily  Drum  Vice  President  ;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mc- 
Afee, Secretary  ;  Miss  Anna  McCausland,  Treasurer  ;  Miss  Agnes 
Montgomery,  Assistant  Secretary  (resigned),  Miss  Anna  Houseman, 
Assistant  Secretary  in  place  of  Miss  Montgomery,  resigned,  also  Cor- 
responding Secretary.  A  Missionary  Library  was  commenced  this 
year  and  Mrs.  Laura  Mace  was  elected  Librarian. 

From  September,  1876  to  Se])tember,  1877  :  Mrs.  Amanda  (ail- 
bertson,  President  ;  Mrs.  S,:)lomou  I'rauger,  Vice  President  ;  Miss 
Li/.zie  Armstrong,  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  D.  W.  Shryock,  Treasurer  ;  Miss 
Anna  Houseman,  Assistant  Secretary. 

From  September,  1^78,  to  January,  1879  :  Mrs  Amanda  Cul- 
bertson.  President  ;  Mrs.  Solomon  Trauger,  Vice  President  ;  Miss 
Lizzie  Armstrong,  Secretary;  Mrs.  D.  ^.  Shr\-ock.  Treasurer  (resign 
ed)  ;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  Corresponding  Secretary  (resigned), 
elected  Treasurer  ;  Mrs.  J.  R.  McAfee,  Corresponding  Secretary  in 
place  of  Mrs    Moorhead,  resigned. 

1879-1880:  Mrs.  Amanda  Culbertson,  President;  Mrs.  Solomon 
Trauger,  Vice  President  ;  Miss  Lizzie  Armstrong,  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  W. 
W.  Moorhead,  Treasurer,  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  McAfee,  Corres])onding 
Secretary. 

1881  :  Mrs.  Carrie  Bray,  President;  Mrs.  John  Guffey,  Vice  Pres 
ident  ;  Mrs  Mary  J.  Felton,  Secretary  (died  Sept.  22d,  1881  )  ;  .  Miss 
Jennie  Culbertson,  Corresponding  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  VV.  W .  Moor- 
head, Treasurer;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mc.\fee,  Solicitor  tor  subscriptions  to 
Missionary  Magazine;  Mrs.  Laura  Mace,  Librarian:  Miss  Lizzie 
Armstrong  appointed  Secretaay  in  October,  1881,  in  place  of  Mrs. 
Felton. 

1882:  Mrs.  H.  C.  Bo)d,  President  ;  Mrs.  R.  B.  Kenly,  Vice 
President;  Miss  Lizzie  Armstrcjiig,  ."secretary  ;  Miss  Lizzi  _•  Miller,  Cor 
responding  Secreary  ;  Mrs.  W.  VV.  Moorhead,  Trea-urer  ;  Miss  Agnes 
Kirker,  Librarian  ;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mc.\fee,  Solicitor  for  subscriptions  to 
Missionary  Magazine. 

1883:  Mrs.  H.  C.  Boyd.  President;  Mrs.  Barnett  Thomas,  Vice 
President  ;  Mi.ss  Jennie  Culbertson,  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  Carrie  Bray, 
Corresponding  Secretary  ;  Mrs  W.  VV.  Moorhead.  Treasurer;  Miss 
Agnes  Kirker,  Librarian  :  Mrs.  Willis  Black,  Solicitor  for  subscriptions 
to  Missionary  Magazine. 


18S4:  Mrs.  H.  C.  Bovd,  President  ;  Mrs.  Amanda  Culbertson, 
Vice  President  ;  Miss  Jennie  Culbertson,  Secretary  (died  Mav  5th, 
1884);  Mrs.  Carrie  Bray,  Corresponding  Secretary;  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Moorhead,  Treasurer  ;  Miss  Agnes  Kirker.  Librarian;  Miss  Maggie 
Hope  (  Mrs.  Giffin  Culbertson,  E.sq.),  Solicitor  for  subscriptions  to 
Missionary  Magazine;  Miss  Lizzie  Armstrong  appointed  Secretary, 
June,  1884,  in  "place   of  Miss  Jennie  Culbertson. 

1885:  Mrs.  W.  W.  Moorhead,  President;  Mrs.  H.  F.  Stark, 
V  ce  President  ;  Miss  Lizzie  Armstrong,  Secretary  ;  Miss  Priscilla 
Miiler,  Corresponding  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  Welty  McCuUogh,  Treasurer; 
M  ^.  M.  R.  Mcanor,  Librarian;  Mrs.  Wilson  Eicher,  Solicitor  for 
^ni)M  riptions  to  Missionary  Magazine 

1886:  Mrs.  Dr.  Withington,  President  ;  Mrs.  John  Guffey,  Vice 
President;  Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  H.  F.  Stark,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  ;  Mrs.  VVclty  McCuUogh,  Treisurer  ;  Mrs.  M.  R. 
Meanor,  Librarian  ;  Mrs.  Dr.  Waugaman,  Solicitor  for  subscriptions 
to  Missionary  Magazine. 

18S7  :  Mrs  H.  C.  Boyd,  President  ;  Mrs.  Amanda  Culbertson, 
Vice  President ;  Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Secretary;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Moor 
head.  Corresponding  Secretary;  Mts  H  F.  Stark,  Treasurer;  Mrs. 
M.  R.  Meanor,  Librarian  ;  Miss  Vinie  Cull)ert.son,  Solicitor  for  sub- 
scripticjns  to  Missionary  Magazine. 

PRESENT    OFFICERS. 

Mrs.  Carrie  Bray,  President  ;  Miss  Agnes  Montgomery,  Vice 
President;  Miss  Nannie  Welty,  Secretary;  Mrs.  W.  W.  M'^orhead, 
Corresponding  Se<  retary  ;  Mrs.  H.  F.  Stark,  Treasurer  ;  Mrs.  Dr. 
Offut,  Librarian  ;  Miss  Vinie  CiiU)ertson,  Solicitor  for  subscriptions 
to  Missionary  Magazine. 

Monthly  meetings  are  held  for  prayer  ;  to  gain  missionary  intelli- 
gence ;  to  talk  of  the  things  of  the  Kingdom,  and  to  devise  ways  and 
means  to  help  the  cawse  of  missions.  Original  papers  and  selected 
articles  on  missionary  subjects  are  frequently  read. 

The  society's  annually  pledges  to  sustain  certain  objects  in  the 
Home  and  Foreign  field  have,  for  some  years  past,  amounted  to  one 
hundred  .md  fiftv-five  dollars,  and  this  year  they  are  pledged  for  one 
hundred  and  eighty-five  doll  u's.  B.'sidcs  the  sums  pledged  they  have 
frecpiently  responded  to  special  appeals  for  help.  The  society  has 
about  seventy  members.  Its  money  is  mostly  received  from  annual 
dues  and  special  contributions. 

FOSTER    MISSION    BAND. 

This  Band  was  organized  at  the  house  of  J.  R.  McAfee,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1874.  It  was  named  after  Mrs.  Mary  Foster,  who  was  then  living 
but  who  has  since  died,  and  who  is  si'oken  of  elsewhere  in  this  history. 

For  about  one  year  Miss  Maria  McAfee  gave  the  Band  iier  advi.e 
and  so'ue  direction,  since  whii  h  time  it  has  been  conducted  b}  its  own 
members. 


121 


ORIGINAL    MEMBERS. 


Anna  McCullogh,  Mary  F.  Shryock,  Sallie   M.  Black,   Lizzie  M. 
Black,  Lizzie  C.  Highberger,  Maggie  Highberger,  Mary  E.  Woods. 


ADDITIONAL    MEMBERS. 

Anna  Dobson,  Winnie  Null,  Ida  Giiffey,  Sallie  Taylor,  Lilly  Tay- 
lor, Mary  Brown,  Kate  Thomas,  Anna  Johnston,  Kizzie  Vance,  Carrie 
Black,  Lizzie  Cherry,  Blanch  Cline,  Alberta  Cline,  Maggie  Morrow, 
Mattie  Jones,  Laura  Cochran,  Jessie  Jamison. 

PKESENl'    OFFICERS. 

Kate  Thomas,  President  ;  Carrie  Black,  Secretary  ;  Sallie  Black, 
Treasurer. 

rr.s  WORK. 

For  fourteen  years  the  Band  has  had  a  scholarship  in  a  girl' 
school  in  Ningpo,  China,  for  which  it  has  paid  forty  dollars  a  year. 
In  boxes  and  money  it  has  contributed  over  two  hundred  dollars  to 
Home  Missions.  It  paid  two  hundred  dollars  toward  the  new  church. 
When  the  Band  was  organized  its  members  were  mere  children,  and  it 
has  only  had  twenty-four  members  all  told,  and  yet  it  has  contributed 
about  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  cause,  of  Christ.  Mary  Foster  Shry- 
ock, one  of  the  original  members,  died  November  2,  1877,  i"  ^^'^ 
i6th  year.  It  was  she  who  said  one  day,  after  listening  to  a  finely 
written  but  rather  pointless  sermon  preached  by  a  neighboring  minis- 
ter, "Why,  Pa,  that  sermon  wasn't  about  anything."  It  was  a  very 
shrewd  criticism.  Anna  Dobson  died  June  20,  1879.  She,  too,  was 
a  bright  and  lovely  Christian.  All  the  others  are  still  living  in  this 
world  but  Mary  and  Anna  have  been  living  in  Heaven  for  a  good 
while. 

HELENA    BAND. 

This  Band  was  organized  at  the  house  of  J.  R.  McAfee,  Novem- 
ber 28,  1874.  Soon  after  its  organization,  February  3.  1875,  Miss 
Loring,  a  returned  missionary,  made  a  visit  to  (ireensburg,  and  at 
'her  suggestion,  it  was  given  the  name,  Helena,  after  one  of  her  favor- 
ite scholars  in  the  Seminary  at  Beirut,  Syria. 

The  society  being  composed  at  first  of  quite  young  girls  was 
under  the  care  and  guidance  of  Mrs.  McAfee  and  Miss  Lucy  Kenly, 
and  also  received  much  encouragement  and  help  from  Mrs.  «  arrie 
Brav.  The  society  worked  for  Home  Missions,  and  for  one  year  at 
least  had  a  scholarship  in  Miss  Cort's  school  at  St  George,  Utah,  for 
which  they  paid  thirty  dollars. 

January  26.  1882,  a  supjjer  was  given  in  the  interest  o(  the  Band 
at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Bray.  Its  numbers  were  never  large,  but  it  con- 
tinued in  existence  until  the  organization  of  the  Young   Ladies'  Soci- 


ety  for  Home  Missions,  March  31,  1885,  ^ft:er  which  it  had  no  more 
meetings.  During  the  last  year  of  its  existence  it  contributed  eleven 
dollars  to  Home  Missions.  Some  of  its  members  removed,  some  mar- 
ried, and  some  went  into  the  Young  Ladies'  Society  above  named. 


ITS    MEMBERS. 

Anna  Clingan,  Kizzie  Vance,  Carrie  Kenly,  ^'ary  Bray,  Lulu 
Philips,  Lizzie  Kilgore,  Nina  Uncapher,  Jennie  Huffman,  Maggie 
Turney,  Emma  Turney,  Anna  Shaw,  Lizzie  Keefer,  Lulu  Se<  hrist. 
Jennie  Greenawalt,  Sara  Bray,  Kate  Berry,  Sallie  Berry,  Adah  Musick. 

LITTLE     SUNBEAMS. 

This  Missionary  Society  was  organized  in  the  Primarv  Depart- 
ment of  the  Sabbath  School,  by  the  Superintendent,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mc- 
Afee, in  1880.  After  its  members  became  too  large  for  the  Primary 
Department  and  were  promoted  to  the  main  school,  they  were  for  a 
time  under  the  care  of  Miss  Bell  Armstrong.  In  1883  they  made  a 
contribution  of  twenty-five  dollars  to  Foreign  Missions. 

YOUNG    ladies'    SOCIETY    FOR    HOME    Ml>-SIONS. 

This  Society  was  organized  at  the  house  of  D.  W.  Shryock, 
March  31,  1885. 

0FFICER8 

The  first  officers  were  :  Mrs.  Carrie  Bray,  President  ;  Miss  T/Ucy 
Kenly,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  A.  D.  Welty,  Secretary;  Miss  Anna 
McCausland,  Corresponding  Secretary  ;   Miss  Docia  Dixon,  Treasurer. 

1886  :  Miss  Maria  McAfee,  President  ;  Miss  Lucy  Kenly.  Vice 
President;  Mrs.  Dr.  OlTut,  Secretary;  Miss  Anna  McCausland,  Cor- 
responding Secretary  ;    Miss  Mattie  Logan,  Treasurer. 

1887:  Miss  Maria  McAfee,  President;  Miss  Iaicv  Kenly,  Vice 
President  ;  Miss  Vinie  <  ulbertson,  Secretary  ;  Miss  Maggie  Clingan, 
Corresponding  Secretary  ;   Mrs.  Dr.  J.  VV.  Harvey,  Treasurer. 

PRESENT    OFFICERS. 

Miss  Maria  McAfee,  President  ;  Mrs.  Carrie  Bray,  Vice  Presi- 
dent ;  Mrs.  H.  G.  Lomison,  Secretary  ;  Miss  Maggie  Clingan,  Cor- 
responding Secretary  ;   Miss  Alice  Hudson,  Treasurer. 

The  society  in  its  first  year,  1885-6,  sent  a  contribution  of  thirty 
dollars  to  the  Home  Board  at  New  York. 

In  1886-7  ^^  gave  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  and  thirty 
cents  to  the  church  at  home,  and  during  the  year  a  contribution  of 
thirty-five  dollars  to  the  Sissiton  school  in  the  Indian  Agency.  In 
1888  it  sent  a  contribution  to  the  Woman's  Executive  Committee 
for    Home  Missions  of  fifty-seven  dollars. 


1  23 
YOUNG    peoples'    ^OCIETY    OF    CHRISTIAN    ENDEAVOR. 

This  society  was  organized  February  2nd,  1888. 

FIRST    OFFICERS. 

The  first  ofificers  were  :  Will  Hays,  President  ;  Craig  Meaner, 
Vice  President  ;  Mary  Foster  Moorhead  (the  pastor's  daughter),  Sec- 
retary ;   Dr.  J.  W.  Harvey,  Treasurer. 

PBESENT    OFEICERS. 

J.  Audley  Black,  President  ;  John  Lightcap,  Vice  President  ;  Al- 
berta Cline,  Secretary  ;    Dr.  J.  W.  Harvey,  Treasurer. 

The  society  meets  weekly,  on  Friday  evenings,  and  has  been  well 
attended.  The  young  people  have  shown  a  commendable  interest  in 
its  object,  and  already  good  results  are  manifest. 

THE    MITE    .SOCIErV. 

Last,  but  not  least,  notwithstanding  its  name,  comes  the  Mite  So- 
ciety. If  it  ever  wa>,  born  it  is  either  too  old  or  too  modest  to  tell 
when.     It   don't  seem  ever  to  have  been  organized. 

Like  the  woman  who  said  she  had  been  a  member  of  the  church 
off  and  on  all  her  life,  so  this  society  seems  to  have  been  a  member 
of  this  church  off  and  on  always.  It  is  held  together  by  work  and 
not  by  rules,  and  you  scarcely  ever  hear  of  it  unless  it  is  doing  some- 
thing. Sometimes  you  might  think  it  was  dead,  but  don't  deceive 
yourself,  at  the  call  of  duty  it  will  rise  again.  After  having  worked 
themselves  half  to  death  its  members  have  often  declared  they  would 
never  do  anything  of  the  kind  again,  but,  being  women,  they  have  a 
right  to  change  their  minds,  and  they  do  change  them,  just  as  soon  as 
they  get  rested  a  little  and  see  something  that  can  be  done  for  the 
-good  of  the  church.  If  the  society  should  ever  die  it  would  have  as 
big  a  funeral  as  Dorcas  of  old,  and  would  leave  as  many  good  works 
behind. 

But  it  won't  die  ;  being  composed  of  women  it  won't  even  grow 
old.  It  would  be  easier  to  tell  what  it  hasn't  done,  than  to  tell  what 
it  has.  It  will  undertake  anything  from  the  building  of  a  church  to 
the  payment  of  the  National  debt.  It  has  reduced  the  surplus  in  many  a 
husband's  pocketbook,  and  has  bankrupted  many  a  young  man  before 
he  had  half  as  much  ice  cream  as  he  could  eat.  There  is  scarcely  any 
improvement  about  the  church  in  which  it  has  not  had  a  hand,  and 
when  it  pauses  for  a  little,  seemingly  to  take  breath,  it  is  only  ;^study- 
ing  what  to  do  n;xt. 

Its  object  originally  was  partly  for  social  enjoyment,  but  the  soci- 
ety has  been  so  full  of  business  that  pleasure  comes  a  long  way 
afterward.  As  soon  as  this  (Centennial  is  over  it  will  begin  getting 
ready  for  the  next  one,  and  it  will  probably  be  on  hand  on  that  inter- 


124 


esting  occasion,  unless  the  millenium  should  come  in  the  meantime 
and  leave  it  without  any  work  to  do,  in  which  event  it  will  probably 
be  found  in  a  state  of  "innoccuous  desuetude." 

SOME  RESULTS. 

To  these  organizations  much  of  the  efficiency  of  the  church  has 
been  due.  Each  one  has  been  a  centre  of  work  and  influence,  and 
through  them  many  of  the  gifts  of  the  church  have  been  made,  and 
much  of  its  etfort  has  been  put  forth. 

During  the  present  pastorate  there  were  added  to  the  church  : 

On  profession,  -  -  -  -  315 

On  certificate,       -----      ^37 

Whole  number  received,  -  -  652 

There  were  fifty-two  received  on  profession  during  the  last  year, 
the  largest  number  in  any  one  year. 

Infants  baptized,         -  -  -  -  278 

Adults  baptized,   -  -  -  -  -        34 

Present  membership,  -  -  -  536 

There  has  been  contributed  to 

Home  Missions  -  -  -  -  ^2,761 
Foreign  Missions,  .  .  -  .  3,802 
Education,  ....  ^82 
Publication,  or  as  it  is  now  called  S.  S.  work,  -  460 
Church  erection,  -  -  -  -  555 
Ministerial  relief  .  .  -  _  ^42 
Freedmen,  -----  544 
Sustentation,  -  '  -  -  -  -  489 
Aid  for  colleges  (this  Board  was  only  recently  or- 
ganized by  the  General  Assembly,  -  163 
General  Assembly  fund,  -  -  -  477 
Miscellaneous,           -             .             .              -  564 


Total  for  general  work  of  the  church,   -  $10,894 
Congregational,       -  .  -  -         $83,506 


Entire  amount  contributed  by  the  church,   -  $94,400 


DEATHS  IN    ITS  MEMBERSHIP. 


One  hundred  and  five  members  have  died  during  my  pastorate. 
The  first  to  die  was  Mr.  John  Agnew,  the  son  of  Mr.  Jas.  Agnew 
probably  the  oldest  living  member  of  this  church.     The  last  member 


125 

who  died  was  Mrs.  Jane  Brady  McCurdy,  great  grand  daughter  of  the 
first  known  elder. 

RELATION  OF  THE  (.'HURCH  TO  THE  OTHER  CHURCHES  Ob  "THE  TOWN. 

The  relation  of  the  church  to  the  other  churches  of  the  town  has 
been  of  the  most  pleasant  character.  Indeed  it  is  easy  for  the  Pres- 
byterian church  to  sustain  such  a  relation.  It  recognizes  the  ministry, 
the  membership,  and  the  sacraments  of  every  other  Christian  church. 
Its  pastor  preaches  in  their  pulpits  when  invited,  and  invites  their 
ministers  to  preach  in  his.  It  dismisses  its  members  to  other  churches 
and  receives  theirs  whether  they  have  been  sprinkled  or  immersed  ; 
whether  they  read  their  prayers  out  of  a  book  or  say  them  out  of  their 
head,  and  whether  they  sing  Psalms  hymns  or  spiritual  songs. 

LENGTH  OF   PASTORATES. 

My  pastorate  is  the  longest  in  the  town.  Since  I  came  to  Greens- 
burg,  the  First  and  Second  Reformed  churches  have  each  had  two 
ministers;  the  Covenanter  has  had  three  ;  the  First  Lutheran  three  ; 
the  Second  Lutheran  four  ;  the  United  Presbyterian  four;  the  Catholic 
three  or  four  ;  the  Episcopalian  half  a  dozen,  and  the  Methodist  and 
United  Brethren  eight  each. 

If  Presbyterians  are  disposed  to  mourn  over  the  instability  of  the 
pastorate  in  these  last  days  they  may  know  at  least  that  it  is  no  better 
in  the  other  denominations  in  that  respect. 

OTHER  NEW  CHURCH  BUILDINGS. 

During  the  present  pastorate  the  First  and  Second  Reformed; 
the  First  and  Second  Lutheran:  the  United  Brethren;  the  United 
Presbyterian,  and  the  Catholic  congregation  have  all  built  new  houses 
of  worship,  and  most  of  them  are  very  fine.  The  Methodist  congre- 
gation also  remodeled  and  enlarged  their  church  and  made  it  almost 
as  good  as  new. 

FAVORABLE  CIRCUMSTANCES. 

Mine  has  been  a  favored  pastorate  and  next  to  the  first  it  has  been 
the  longest.  Never  in  its  history  has  Greensburg  been  so  prosj^erous 
or  increased  so  rapidly  as  during  the  time  covered  by  my  ministry. 

It  is  true  that  in  the  early  part  of  it  the  country  passed  through 
some  hard  times,  and  Greensburg  felt  these  to  some  extent ;  and  yet 
during  the  last  seventeen  years  the  population  of  the  borough  and  its 
immediate  surroundings  has  nearly  doubled,  and  the  church  has  re- 
ceived its  share  of  the  increase.  I  thank  God  that  He  has  permitted 
me  to  spend  so  many  of  the  years  of  my  ministry  in  Greensburg. 

Besides  calling  me  here  in  circumstances  and  at  a  time  most 
favorable,  He  has  also  granted  His  blessing  and  given  me  the  co-op- 
eration of  the  people.      In  addition    to   the  ordinary  expenses  of  the 


126 

church  and   the  contributions  to  benevolence,  there   has   been  an  al- 
most constant  outlay  for  improvements  during  my  entire  pastorate. 

First,  the  parsonage  was  built,  then  the  old  church  was  repaired, 
and  then  the  present  church  building  was  erected.  Thus  we  have 
scarcely  gotten  through  with  one  expense  until  another  has  been  in- 
curred, and  yet  in  all  this  there  has  arisen  no  strife,  and  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  congregation  have  borne  their  share  ot  the  burdens  and 
have  met  their  pecuniary  obligations  without  murmuring. 

SOME  PERSONAL  MATTERS. 

The  congregation,  besides  manifesting  an  interest  in  the  cause  of 
Christ,  has  also  been  kind  to  his  minister.  When  taken  sick  in  1884, 
the  elders  came  to  me  and  told  me  to  give  myself  no  thought  about 
supplying  the  pulpit,  as  they  would  see  to  that. 

The  brethren  in  the  minisiry  were  also  kind.  The  Rev.  E.  H. 
Dickinson,  Rev.  Josias  Stevenson,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
the  Rev.  W.  F.  Ulery,  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  Rev.  T.  R. 
Ewing,  of  Blairsville  Seminary,  each  preached  for  me.  When  it  be- 
came evident  that  my  sickness  would  be  protracted,  the  congregation 
secured  the  stated  services  of  Rev.  T.  R.  Ewing  for  about  two  months. 
Under  this  arrangement  the  congregation  doubtless  thought  it  was 
good  for  them  to  be  afflicted  in  the  illness  of  their  pastor,  for  while 
the  latter  grew  in  strength  under  the  treatment  of  Doctors  x\nawalt 
and  Kemerer,  they  were  also  improving  under  the  preaching  of  Dr. 
Ewing. 

Just  before  he  was  taken  sick  the  congregation  had  made  their 
pastor  a  gift  of  several  hundred  dolla-s,  and  this  came  very  good  in 
the  sickness  which  followed.  Almost  every  sum-ner  they  have  given 
him  a  vacation,  which,  with  a  part  of  his  family  and  often  with  some 
members  of  the  congregation,  has  usually  been  spent  at  Bedford.  The 
drive  over  the  old  pike  and  through  the  mountains  to  this  famous  old 
watering  place  is  delightful  at  the  time  it  is  made,  and  the  memory  of 
it  is  pleasant  and  enjoyable  long  afterwaad.  In  1S87,  when  I  went  to 
the  General  Assembly,  at  Omaha,  and  paid  a  visit  to  my  old  congre- 
gation at  Milan,  Illinois,  Dr.  T.  H.  Robinson,  of  Allegheny  Seminary, 
preached  two  days,  and  a  young  man,  Mr.  Will.  Boone,  one,  for 
which  they  were  paid  by  the  congregation.  There  are  also  gifts  of 
which  I  may  not  speak — golden  remembrancers  of  kindness  and  good 
will.  These  have  come  again  and  again  bringing  with  them  many 
substantial  comforts  and  cheering  the  heart  of  the  minister  with  an 
assurance  of  the  kindly  feelings  of  those  to  whom  he  ministers. 

It  is  also  cause  for  gratitude  to  God  that  he  has  made  my  pastorate 
to  cover  this  centennial  occasion.  It  has  been  a  joy  to  greet  so  many 
of  the  former  pastors,  and  their  descendants,  and  together  with  them 
and  the  congregation  to  recall  the  church's  history. 


127 


CONCLUSION. 


Of  the  eight  pastors,  five  are  still  living  and  four  have  been 
present  on  this  occasion.  We  have  talked  of  the  things  that  have 
happened,  and  have  rejoiced  in  the  goodness  and  fiiithfnlness  of  our 
own  and  our  fathers'  God.  We  have  also  been  reminded  of  the  fleeting 
nature  of  all  things  earthly.  Where  the  old  church  stood  is  now  St. 
Clair  cemetery,  and  many  of  those  of  whom  we  have  spoken  are  there 
sleeping.  Two  of  the  [xistors.  Rev  Robert  Henry  and  Dr.  Smith,  lie 
surrounded  by  those  to  whom  they  once  preached  the  Gospel.  As 
the  past  comes  crowding  on  the  present,  so  the  cities  of  the  dead  are 
crowding  on  the  cities  of  the  living,  and  the  ivy  creeps  over  the  very 
altars  from  which  the  prayers  and  praises  of  God's  people  once  as 
cended.  But  the  past  of  the  church  has  left  an  empty  sepulcher.  It 
has  already  risen,  anti,  as  we  stand  to-day  and  look  in  at  the  open 
portal,  there  meets  us  the  angel  of  the  ressurrection,  saying,  "Why 
seek  ye  the  living  among  the  dead,"  and  bidding  us  hasten  to  the 
place  of  meeting,  not  indeed  in  Gililee,  but  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Tree  of  Life  where  Christ  and  the  sainted  dead  have  appointed.  And 
even  as  we  turn  to  go  there  mrets  us  the  "All  hail"  of  our  risen  Lord, 
and  in  his  presence  cemeteries  turn  to  fields  Elvsian.  and  earthy 
churches  into  the  heavenlv  temple,  and  already  in  faith,  if  not  in  fact, 
we  are  in  a  world  which  lies  beyond  all  graves,  and  are  living  a  life 
that  knows  no  past  of  love  or  friendship,  but  only  one  eternal  present. 


I2« 


LETTERS. 


REV.     W.     W.     TAYl.CR. 

Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,   D.   D., 

My  Beloved  Brother  in  Christ : 

As  a  small  contribution  to  the  Centennial  History  I  have  conclu- 
ded to  respond  to  the  warm  invitation  of  yourself  and  Rev.  Dr.  Moor- 
head.  When  it  w^as  pnjposed  to  me  to  be  present  on  this  beautiful 
occasion  the  thought  came  up  in  a  sorrowful  form  :  being  assured  that 
the  most  of  those  to  whom  1  had  borne  the  sacred  relation  of  pastor, 
and  others,  among  whom  I  had  cordially  moved  in  daily  life,  I  should 
not  find  on  the  streets,  nor  in  their  earthly  homes.  Passing  through 
Greensburg  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago  I  stopped  for  twenty-four  hours 
and  had  great  delight  in  receiving  warm  tokens  of  remembrance  and 
affection,  and  heartily  responding  to  the  same  on  the  part  of  many  ; 
unto  whom,  if  any  may  be  listening  to  these  words,  I  ask  for  Grace 
and  Peace  from  God  our  Father,  and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

My  ministry  at  Greensburg  was  only  for  three  years,  and  my  pas- 
torate much  shorter,  as  I  saw  the  difficulty  of  support,  and  was  not 
anxious  to  be  installed  ;  my  heart,  however,  was  in  the  work  all  the 
same. 

From  my  conversion  I  had  expected  no  other  than  a  Foreign 
Missionary  life,  and  was  accepted  by  the  American  Board  C.  F.  M., 
and  appointed  to  India,  with  Rev.  James  W.  Dale  as  a  colleague,  to 
found  ;  new  mission.  On  account  of  financial  difficulties  eight  or 
ten  of  us  were  kept  at  home  After  vvaiting,  as  a  temporary  supply,  till 
the  matter  was  definitely  settled  with  the  American  Board,  I  became 
anxious  for  a  permanent  field  of  labor  at  home ;  and  when,  in  a 
strangely  providential  way,  my  name  was  given  to  the  New  School 
church  at  Greensburg,  and  I  was  invited  to  come  and  preach,  "ssured- 
ly  gathering"  that  an  open  door  was  before  me,  I  lost  not  a  Sabbath 
in  making  my  way  over  the  mountains  by  stage,  from  Philadelphia. 
This  was  in  May,  1840. 

The  New  School  Presbytery  of  Pittsburg,  second,  I  think  it  was 
called,  was  very  small  ;  composed  of  Rev.  Dr.  David  R.  Riddle,  of 
3rd  church,    Pittsburg;     Rev.  James  M.  Davis,  of  5th  or  6th  church. 


129 

Pittsburg  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Sparks,  of  Minersville  ;  Rev.  Samuel  Montgom- 
ery, of  Mt.  Pleasant,  with  other  churches  at  Greensburg,  Unity,  Pleas- 
ant Unity,  and  Ligonier. 

Wlien  1  arrived  at  Greensburg  I  found  the  whole  Presbytery  on 
the  ground,  holding  what  we  used  to  call  a  "protracted"  or  "three 
days  meeting,"  and  I  inunediately  took  part  in  the  preaching.  The 
Greensburg  church  was  organized  with  four  elders,  Messrs.  McLaugh- 
lin, Armstrong,  Thomas  Drum,  and  Samael  P.  Brown,  M.  D.  Until 
I  brought  my  family  and  went  to  housekeeping,  in  the  summer,  I 
boarded  with  James  Nichols,  Esq.  I  was  well  received  ;  I  met  with 
respect  and  affection  from  my  people,  and  was  well  treated  by  those 
outside.  Still  my  social  life  did  not  extend  far  beyond  our  own  eccle- 
siastical circle.  Simply  as  a  matter  of  history  I  may  say,  it  was  so 
shortly  after  the  disruption,  there  had  not  been  time  for  misunderstand- 
ings to  be  rectified,  and  asperities  to  be  softened.  In  that  region,  by 
some  called  the  backbone  of  the  Old  School  power,  it  was  looked 
upon  almost  as  a  revolt  against  divine  rights,  and  as  conscientious  men 
are  most  set  in  their  convictions,  the  prejudices  against  us  were  very 
strong,  and  the  opposition  almost  bitter. 

For  the  first  six  months, I  supplied  the  church  at  Unity  as  well  as 
Greensburg.  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger,  whom  I  had  personally  known  at 
Wilmington,  Del.    was  then  pastor  at  Unity. 

At  Greensburg  I  preached  in  what  would  now  be  called  the  old 
church  and  the  old  court  house,  on  alternate  Sabbaths,  as  Rev.  Mr. 
Brownson  was  absent  every  other  Sabbath  to  serve  the  church  at  Mt. 
Pleasant. 

1  have  ventured  to  allude  to  the  strong  unfriendly  feeling  between 
the  two  parties  at  that  day,  because  the  swell-tide  of  love  and  confidence 
has  carried  it  away  forever.  I  have  spoken  of  it  also  as  a  matter  of  his- 
tory and  ground  of  thanksgiving  for  the  happy  change;  but,  more 
than  all,  I  have  had  in  mind,  by  way  of  contrast,  the  treatment  I  re- 
ceived from  Rev.  J.  I.  Brownson.  I  was  not  a  heretic,  I  held  to  our 
standards  with  understanding  and  heart,  and  having  been  licensed  and 
ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  by  the  Third  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  I 
felt  conscientiously  and  in  honor  bound  to  go  with  them,  for  I  knew 
them  to  be  true  men.  Mr.  Brownson  had  wisdom  and  largeness  of 
heart  to  treat  me  for  what  I  was.  a  minister  of  tlie  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  in  the  face  of  warning  and  rebuke,  when  I  entered  his  church  as 
a  hearer  he  asked  me  to  the  pulpit  and  gave  me  a  part  of  the  service. 

A  fraternal  spirit  prevailed  in  Greensburg  among  all  the  preach- 
ers, and  we  all  united,  co-operatively  in  all  good  common  churchly  la- 
bors. In  my  own  field  I  had  but  a  small  margin  to  work  upon,  still 
we  were  not  left  without  hopeful  conversions  and  additions  to  the 
church.  I  was  assisted  by  members  of  the  Presbytery,  and  my  people 
were  mainly  zealous  and  faithful,  with  some  earnest  praying  ones.  To 
the  first  incpiiry  meeting  called  at  my  dwelling,  I  listened  anxiously 
for  footsteps  and  some  came.  How  many  were  brought  to  God  during 
my  ministry,  I  am  unable  to  state.  "When  I  thought  of  leaving,  the 
young  men  who  had  joined  us  said,  if  1  vvould  stay  till  they  were  able 
I  should  be  supported. 


130 

We  preached  all  over  our  bounds  ;  Mr.  Montgomery  and-  myself 
going  up  to  Pittsburg  and  Minersville,  and  the  brethren  from  there 
coming  among  us,  holding  services  at  Greensburg,  and  Unity,  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Pleasant  Unity,  and  at  Ligonier.  At  Ligonier  we  had  a 
church  but  no  minister.  There  were  two  Elders,  one  William  Am- 
brose, a  large-hearted  man,  who  entertained  us,  and  another,  who 
lived  in  a  rough  way,  but  was  mighty  in  the  Scriptures  and  the  Shorter 
Catechism.  A  large  work  of  grace  was  experienced  at  Ligonier,  but 
mainly  after  I  left.  At  one  of  our  preaching  stations,  it  might  be 
Pleasant  Unity,  in  the  summer  we  held  out  of  door  services,  a  real 
camp  meeting,  in  which  I  much  delighted.  The  Methodist  people  of 
the  neighborhood  often  joined  us  and  would  sing  some  lively  hymns. 
On  one  occasion  of  prayer,  when  they  were  remembered  at  the  throne 
of  Grace,  a  warm  hearted  Methodist  brother  interjected,  "And  God 
bless  the  New  School  too  !"  One  Saturday  evening  two  of  the  Greens- 
burg elders,  Mr.  Drum  and  Dr.  Brown  rode  down  to  the  camp,  in- 
tending to  spend  the  Sabbath  ;  when  a  mile  distant,  they  distinctly 
heard  the  voice  of  preaching,  and  when  they  came  nearer,,  to  their 
surprise,  they  found  it  was  their  own   minister. 

It  was  the  fashion,  in  those  days,  to  hold  numerous  services  in 
connection  with  the  Communion.  It  was  strictly  the  Lord's  table,  to 
which  communicants  came  from  the  pews  and  returned  to  give  place  to 
others.  The  tables  were  fenced  and  for  one  or  two  occasions  after  I 
came  leaden  tokens  were  used.  Each  table  had  to  be  addressed  and 
the  elements  blessed,  and  so  many  came  together  from  our  neighbor- 
ing churches  that  it  usually  took  us  from  lo  or  10:30  A.  M.,  till  3  P. 
M.,  for  the  service.  Once  I  administered  alone  and  greatly  enjoyed 
the  long  ministration,  the  heart  growing  warmer  and  warmer,  and  the 
speech  more  easy  in  the  sweet  work.  Usually  my  dear  brother  Sam- 
uel Montgomery,  who  lately  entered  into  rest,  assisted  me,  as  I,  in 
turn,  was  with  him  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  stopping  at  his  house  or  with  El- 
der Niccolls. 

I  must  mention  an  old  disciple,  and  I  think  an  elder  at  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Father  Leasure,  we  called  him.  He  had  come  down  from  the 
great  revival  times  in  the  early  years  of  the  century,  and  still  preserv- 
ed the  sacred  fire  in  his  heart,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  upon  his  lips. 
Although  it  was  with  some  difficulty  he  made  his  way  to  his  feet,  when- 
ever his  pastor  called  he  was  ready  with  an  exhortation  to  "his  fellow 
travelers  to  a  never-ending  eternity."  He  had  settled,  or  more  likely 
been  born  in  the  region,  so  far  back  that  nothing  but  pewter  plates 
and  tin  cups  were  used  at  meals,  and  wlien,  very  early,  he  found  him- 
self in  a  Government  garrison  he  looked  upon  the  earthen  ware  of 
dishes,  and  cups  and  saucers,  with  spoons  and  knives  and  forks,  some- 
what as  the  Queen  of  Sheba  surveyed  the  table  of  Solomon,  watching 
others  that  ha  might  know  the  use  of  the  strange  instruments,  and  how 
to  handle  them. 

There  was  an  old  lady  member  of  the  New  School  church  at 
Greensburg,  whose  name  I  cannot  recall,  that  in  her  childhood  had 
been  carried  captive  by  the  Indians. 


I  have  never  heard  of  Father  Leasure's  death,  although  his  pastor 
once  left  him  so  sick  and  low  that  upon  going  home  he  prepared  a  fu- 
neral sermon  for  the  old  saint  that  was  never  preached. 

By  the  spring  of  1843  ^  began  to  feel  it  necessary  to  change  my 
field  of  labor.  When  installed,  the  church  was  promised  aid  from 
outside,  in  which  we  were  disappointed,  and,  being  invited  to  the 
church  in  Canton,  Ohio,  without  any  effort  on  my  part,  or  even 
knowledge  of  its  existence,  I  again  thought  a  door  was  providentially 
set  open. 

Leaving  many  that  1  loved  in  the  land  of  the  living,  and  two  in- 
fant children,  to  make  dear  to  my  memory  the  Greensburg  cemetery, 
I  departed  to  Ohio,  in  May,  1843. 

REV.  W.   W.  TAYLOR. 

Wilmington,  Del.,  March  21,  1888. 


REV.     D.    KENNEDY. 

St.   Mary's,   Pa.,  Feb.  2nd,  1888. 
Rev.    W.    IV.   Moorhead,  D.  D.,  Greenslmrg,  Pa., 

Dear  Brother  : — In  reply  to  your  communication  I  am  very 
sorry  to  say  I  cannot  be  at  Greensburg  on  the  date  of  your  Centennial, 
as  my  presence  is  imperatively  needed  at  Presbytery  on  the  17th  of 
April.  Had  it  been  either  earlier  or  later,  I  would  have  tried  to  have 
been  with  you,  as  I  still  feel  a  warm  interest  in  all  pertaining  to  your 
church.      With  kind  regards, 

Respectfully  yours, 

D.  KENNEDY. 


rev.    JAMES    L.    DRUM. 

San  Luis  Obispo,  California,      | 
March  i6th,  1888.  j 

Rev.   W.   W.  Moorhead,  Greensburg,  Pa., 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother  : — Your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the 
Centennial  services  in  connection  with  the  Greensburg  church,  has 
been  in  my  hands  for  several  weeks,  and,  although  I  knew  from  the 
first  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  present,  nevertheless  it  is 
with  a  sensation  equivalent  to  that  of  a  great  disappointment,  that  I 
say  so. 

Nor  can  I,  as  you  suggest,  write  anything  that  it  would  be  well  to 
reai;!  on  that  occasion.  The  thought  that  it  might  be  otherwise,  is  the 
reason  that  I  have  delayed  this  acknowledgment  of  your  kindness  in 
remembering  me. 


132 

I  have  heard  it  said  that  I  am  the  only  one  from  the  church  who 
has  entered  the  ministry.  Ought  not  Dr.  Smith's  son  James  to  be 
counted  ?     Or   was  he   never  a  member  of  the    Greensburg  church  ? 

It  was  while  the  church  was  without  a  regular  pastor,  just 
after  Dr.  Smith's  connection  had  been  formally  dissolved,  and  while 
he  was  still  occasionally  supplying  the  pulpit,  that  I  was  received 
into  its  membership.  And  he  was  the  only  person  in  the  church  who 
ever  spoke  directly  to  me  on  the  subject  of  the  ministry.  Count  me 
among  Dr.  Smith's  boys  and  I  am  more  than  satisfied. 

As  to  human  instrumentalities  that  were  connected  with  my  con- 
version, as  my  thoughts  run  back  to  the  time,  twenty-two  years  ago, 
of  my  associations  with  the  old  church  ;  there  are  three  women,  whose 
abundant  labors,  as  connected  with  the  church,  were  for  the  most  part 
in  the  Sabbath  School,  who  were  direct  messengers  of  the  Spirit's 
grace  to  me.  Their  influence  has  followed  with  me  in  whatever  meas- 
ure of  good  I  may  have  since  attained,  and  restrained  in  many  times  of 
temptation  to  evil. 

To  me  there  is  no  argument  for  prayer  greater  than  that  expressed 
so  tersely  in  the  simple  words  of  the  hymn,  "And  prayer  will  be  an- 
swered, 'twas  answered  for  you."  And  never  do  the  words  recur  but 
memory  seems  to  summon  these  faithful  friends  of  a  perverse  boy,  as 
witnesses  to  their  truth. 

My  thoughts  will  often  fly  to  old  Greensburg  as  the  jubilee  week 
comes  on,  and  I  shall  be  eager  to  receive  the  reports  of  your  meetings 
and  rejoicings,  and  I  trust  also  of  abundant  spiritual  blessings  from 
the  God  of  all  Grace. 

Yours,  most  sincerely, 

JAMES  L.   DRUM. 


REV.  MARCUS    A.    BROWNSON. 

Camden,  N.  J.,  Jan.  27th,  1888. 
Rev.   W.  IV.  Moorhead,  D.  D., 

My  Dear  Sir  :  —I  am  very  grateful  for  your  kind  invitation  to  be 
present  on  the  occasion  of  the  Centennial  of  your  church  the  middle 
of  April  next.  I  am  not  able  to  say  right  off  that  I  can  be  with  you 
at  that  time.  I  would  like  very  much  to  visit  the  church  for  which  my 
father  has  so  much  love.  He  often  talks  of  the  warm  hearted  people 
of  his  first  charge.  The  event  which  you  mention  will  be  one  of 
great  interest;  but  I  cannot  say  so  long  in  advance  that  I  shall  be  able 
to  enjoy  it  with  you. 

With  thankfulness  for  your  thought  of  me. 

I  am,  very  truly,  yours, 

MARCUS   A.  BROWNSON. 


133 


rev.   b.   l.   agnew,  d.  d. 

1933  Park  Ave.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,     1 
January    26lh,    1888.  ) 

Dear  Dr.  Moorhead, 

Your  invitation  to  be  present  with  you  at  your  Centennial  in 
April,  has  just  been  received.  It  would  be  exceedingly  pleasant  for 
me  to  visit  old  Greensburg  once  more,  but  just  now  I  cannot  cjuite  see 
my  way  clear  to  be  with  you.  I  am  engaged  in  building  a  new  church. 
Twelve  feet  above  ground  the  walls  are  now.  In  April  I  will  be  very 
busy.  Besides,  I  have  been  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  en- 
tertainment of  the  next  General  Assembly,  and  my  work  will  be  press- 
ing me  in  April,  so  that  I  do  not  see  how  I  can  take  upon  me  any  ex- 
tra service  at  that  time,  especially  such  as  would  call  me  away  from 
home.  Possibly,  when  I  get  the  work  all  systematized  and  well  in 
hand,  I  may  be  able  to  run  off  for  two  or  three  days,  and  be  glad  to 
get  away.  Yours  verv  Fraternally, 

B.  L.  AGNEW. 


REV.    JOHN    C.    BLISS,    D.    D. 

423  West  154TH  Street,  ) 

New  York,  April   13th,   1888.       j 

Rev.   W.   W.  Moorhcad,  D.  D.,  Greensburg,  Fa., 

My  Dear  Brother  : — It  would  give  me  unfeigned  pleasure  to  at- 
tend the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  organization  of  your 
church,  in  response  to  the  two  fold  invitation  so  kindly  sent  me,  but 
my  duties  here  will  prevent. 

Be  assured,  however,  that  among  all  the  expressions  of  interest 
and  affection  conveyed  by  pen  or  tongue  to  you  and  your  good  people 
on  this  auspicious  occasion,  none  will  breathe  a  truer  feeling  than  that 
which  animates  the  writer  of  these  lines.  As  long  as  memory  lasts 
there  must  remain  with  me  tender  recollections  of  the  blessed  work  of 
Grace  in  your  church  in  March,  1861,  of  which  it  pleased  God  to 
make  me  the  chief  instrument,  unworthy  as  I  was  of  such  honor.  How 
well  I  remember  my  surprise  (after  having  addressed  the  young  people 
of  the  church  on  a  Sabbath  in  February,  at  the  request  of  the  pastor, 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Smith),  when,  soon  after,  I  received  a  most  urgent 
letter,  asking  me  to  return  and  hold  other  services.  This  letter  was 
signed  by  a  large  number  of  persons,  among  them  some  who  were  not 
Christians.  This  seemed  so  significant  that,  after  consultation  with 
the  Professors  in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  where  I  was  then 
pursuing  my  studies,  I  could  not  refuse  to  respond  to  the  request.  So 
on  Friday  evening,  March  i8th,  1861,  we  began  our  meetings  in  the 
lecture  room  of  the  old  church,  the  young,  unfledged  theologian,  work- 


134 

ing  under  the  direction  of  the  faithful  and  experienced  old  pastor. 
But  how  little  did  either  then  foresee  what  a  gale  of  spiritual  wind  was 
about  to  sweep  over  the  people.  Yet  soon  it  came,  bowing  and  break- 
ing sinful  hearts  under  its  gracious  power,  until  scores  were  echoing 
the  anxious  cry  of  the  Philippian  jailor, "What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 
During  the  whole  month  the  work  went  on.  Neighborhood  meetings, 
sometimes  twice  a  day,  were  held  in  the  different  houses,  besides  those 
in  the  lecture  room  at  night,  and  then  there  were  times  for  special 
counsel  and  prayer  with  those  who  avowed  their  saving  reception  of 
Jesus  Christ.  And  so  we  came  to  that  memorable  Sacramental  ocea 
sion,  on  the  31st  of  March,  twenty-seven  years  ago,  when  some  ninety 
names  were  added  to  your  church  roll,  fifty-four  of  tliese  making  their 
first  confession  of  Christ. 

As  the  custom  was  then  in  vogue  of  sitting  at  the  table  in  par- 
taking of  the  Communion,  the  young  communicants  were  invited  to 
come  to  the  first  table,  which  they  entirely  filled,  and  I  was  asked  to 
make  them  a  special  address.  It  was  an  occasion  of  very  tender  and 
tearful  interest — a  day  of  days  in  the  history  of  the  church,  and  in  the 
experience  of  all  present.  Many  said  they  had  never  witnessed  such 
a  scene  ;  parents  and  relatives,  with  overflowing  hearts  and  eyes,  re- 
joiced at  seeing  their  children  and  kindred  coming  out  on  the  Lord's 
side,  while  the  aged  pastor  and  man  of  God  poured  out  his  full,' 
though  tremulous  thanksgivings,  over  the  tokens  of  salvation  which  he 
was  thus  permitted  to  behold,  and  all  joined  him  in  singing.  "Not 
unto  us,  not  unto  us  but  unto  Thy  name  be  all  the  glory,  O   Lord." 

On  my  list  of  those  whose  homes  were  open  for  our  meetings  for 
prayer,  and  whose  hearts  were  responsive  to  the  touches  of  a  Saviour's 
love,  I  find,  besides  the  pastor's,  the  names  of  Armstrong,  Brown, 
Burrell,  Coulter,  Drum,  Foster,  Kilgore,  Kunkle,  Laird,  McAfee,  Mar- 
chand,  Moorhead,  Richardson,  Shryock,  Shields,  Story,  Welty,  Will- 
iams, Woods,  and  others. 

With  all  of  these  great  changes  have  doubtless  occurred  since 
that  time ;  many  of  them,  indeed,  must  have  closed  their  earthly  ex- 
istence, but  whatever  may  have  been,  or  may  now  be,  their  career  or 
condition,  that  was  a  time  of  grace  ;  a  golden  opportunity  of  blessing 
to  them,  each  and  all.  It  has  been  my  sincere  wish  that  the  Divine 
benediction  might  continue  to  the  end  with  every  one  whom  I  then 
and  thus  knew,  though  our  ways  have  been  so  widely  parted  for  so 
many  yeaus.  To  those  who  are  yet  in  the  flesh,  and  who  remember  me, 
please  say  that  my  heartfelt  prayer  is  that  their  remaining  years  may 
be  their  best,  because  fuller  of  Christ  and  nearer  heaven.  And  imay 
you,  my  dear  brother,  with  all  of  your  present  charge,  enjoy  large  and 
increasing  measures  of  the  presence  and  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
may  your  hearts  be  made  glad  by  seeing  the  Lord's  work  prospering 
among  you,  and  may  we  all  come,  by  and  by,  to  share  in  the  final 
jubilee  of  the  whole  Israel  of  God  in  the  Kingdom  of  His  Glory 
Yours  in  Christian  and  Presbyterian  bonds. 

JOHN  C.   BLISS, 
Pastor  Washington  Heights  Presbyterian  Church, 

New  York  City. 


135 

REV.    OSCAR    A.     HILLS,   D.     I). 

WoosTER,  O.,  April  9th,   r888. 
Afv  Dear  Dr.  Moorhcad, 

It  is  at  last  definitely  settled  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  attend 
your  Centennial  Celebration.  I  am  very  sorry,  as  I  doubt  not  it  will 
l)e  a  memorable  occasion,  and  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  join 
in  it,  and  renew  the  acquaintance  I  formed  with  your  congregation  in 
my  Seminary  days.  Many  of  them  I  remember  with  unfading  inter- 
est, and  many  more  have  no  doubt  gone  to  the  better  land.  May  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church  help  you  and  your  people  fittingly  to  round 
out  these  hundred  years. 

With  many  thanks  for  your  kind  invitation,  and  fervent  wishes 
for  an  auspicious  anniversary,  I  remain, 

Very  sincerelv,  yours. 

O.  A.   HILLS. 


rev.   m.   r.   riddle,   d.   d. 

Western  Theological  Seminary,  ) 
April  5th,  1888.  } 

Rev.  Dr.    W.    W.  Moorhead,  Greensbiirg. 

In  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  an  invitation  to  attend  the  Cen- 
tennial exercises  of  your  church,  permit  me  to  express  my  regret  that 
the  pressure  of  necessary  duties  will  prevent  my  absence  from  home  at 
the  time  named.  Were  it  possible  I  would  gladly  attend  some  part  at 
least  ot  the  services. 

Yours,  very  trulv. 

M.   B.   RIDDLE. 


REV.     W.    S.    miller. 

1520  9TH  Street,  N.  W.,  ) 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  loth,  r<S8M.    j' 
Dear  Brother  Afoorh^ad, 

I  received,  some  days  ago,  an  invitation  to  attend  the  Centennial 
exercises  of  the  Greensburg  church.  I  am  much  obliged  for  the  invi- 
tation, but  I  cannot  possibly  leave  my  work  here  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  the  services,  and  a  visit  with  you.  I  hope  you  will  have  a  pleasant 
and  successful  time.  I  will  be  glad  to  hear  about  it,  so  if  you  think 
of  it,  send  me  some  papers.  Yours. 

W.   S.   MILLER. 


136 

REV.     S.    J.     M.     EATON,    D.     D. 

Franklin,  Pa.,  March  19th,  1888. 
M\  Dear  Brother, 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  invitation  to  your  anniversary.  It 
would  delight  me  to  be  present  but  I  must  deny  myself  the  pleasure. 
The  history  of  one  hundred  years  will  have  many  lights  and  shadows, 
l)ut  over  all  will  be  the  light  of  the  Lord's  countenance,  and  His 
hies^ing  that  has  kept  the  church  safe  and   prosperous  to  this  day. 

May  the  Lord  be  with  you  on  this  occasion,  and  make  your  hearts 
glad  with  His  love  and  promise. 

Yours  in  the  Gospel, 

S.    T.   M.  EATON. 


REV.    CHARLES    BROWN. 

Philadelphia,  April  nth,  1888. 
Dear  Brother, 

Your  kind  invitation  to  the  Celebration  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  Greensburg  Presbyterian  Church,  was  duly  receiv- 
ed ;  for  which  please  accept  my  sincere  thanks.  I  would  be  happy  to 
respond  in  person,  but  as  I  bear  the  weight  of  fourscore  and  two  years 
a  journey  of  several  hundred  miles  might  prove  to  me  rather  excessive 
recreation. 

I  hope  the  Lord  will  greatly  bless  you,  and  all  the  other  breth- 
ren in  the  exercises,  and  that  He  will  follow  your  future  labors  with 
much  success.  Yours  in  Christ, 

CHARLES  BROWN, 

4013  Spruce  Street. 


REV.   s.    .s.    gilson. 

Cincinnati,  March   20th,  1888. 
My  Dear  Brother, 

I  worked  a  considerable  time  yesterday  and  a  part  of  this  fore- 
noon on  your  letter  but  must  give  it  up.  I  cannot  translate  it.  I  had 
an  expert  at  it  yesterday  and  he  put  in  so  many  reflections  on  me  that 
T  do  not  accept  his  translation.  I  think  I  had  better  return  it  very 
promptly,  for  if  I  keep  it  a  week  you  cannot  read  it  yourself.  Please 
have  your  wife  translate  it  and  write  it  out  for  me.  I  can  make  out 
the  word  "Banner,"  and  that  excites  my  curiosity  to  know  what  you 
are  writing  about.  If  necessary,  have  the  translation  copied  on  a 
type  writer,  at  my  expense.  As  soon  as  I  know  what  you  say  I  will 
answer.  Yours,  sincerelv, 

'S.  S.  GILSON. 


137 


REMINISCENCES. 


REV.  GEORGE  HILL,  D.  D. 


This  is  a  voluntary  speech,  called  out  by  your  pastor.  I 
have  no  speech  to  make,  except  to  say  that  your  pastor  wrote  to 
me  a  few  days  ago,  saying  that  I  would  be  expected  to  present 
some  reminiscences,  and  if  I  hadn't  any  I  should  make  some. 
Now,  the  days  when  my  imagination  used  to  take  wing  and  fly 
abroad  have  passed  away.  I  have  no  inventive  genius  at  my  age, 
and,  therefore,  cannot  make  reminiscences. 

My  connection  with  this  congregation  has  been  so  slight  that 
I  have  very  few  to  recall,  and  yet  I  have  this  fact  to  state,  that  I 
suppose  I  am  the  oldest  man  living  who  preached  in  this  church. 
That  is,  I  preached,  I  suppose,  farther  back  in  the  history  of  this 
church  than  any  man  now  living.  I  preached  in  the  old  church 
that  stood  in  what  is  now  your  cemetery  when  I  was  a  licentiate, 
and  I  suppose  you  will  judge,  from  the  color  of  my  hair,  that 
that  was  a  good  while  ago.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1840 — nearly  48 
years  ago.  I  do  not  now  recollect  whether  I  came  at  the  request 
of  the  Session  or  by  appointment  of  Presbytery.  I  presume  it 
was  by  appointment  of  Presbytery.  I  came,  however,  as  an  en- 
tire stranger  to  the  whole  congregation — to  the  whole  town, 
indeed.  I  had  never  been  here  before.  I  came,  not  by  steam 
and  rail,  but  according  to  the  good  old  democratic  fashion,  on 
horseback,  with  saddle-bags  under  me.  I  stopped  at  the  house 
kept,  I  suppose,  by  Mr.  Horbach — the  house  that  is  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street  from  the  Fisher  House,  now — and  put  vip  my 
horse  there.  The  family  of  Dr.  Postlevvaite — he  himself,  and  his 
wife,  were  absent,  I  think,  at  Somerset — the  family,  however,  in- 
vited me  to  make  my  home  with  them  while  I  stayed,  and  I 
accepted  the  invitation.  I  met  there  his  daughters — the  single 
daughters — the  oldest  of  whom  I  found  to  be  a  Christian  of  a 
different  color  from  the  blue  which  I  wore  ;  a  smart,  intelligent, 
sharp-tongued  woman,  who  was  fond  of  theological  controversy, 
and  rather  abashed  me  and  made  me  afraid  that  I  should  betray 


138 

my  ignorance.  She  was,  as  you  all  know,  a  member  of  the 
''Church  of  the  Disciples,"  or  "Campbellite  Church,"  and  then 
for  the  first  time,  in  conversation  at  least,  I  encountered  the  idea 
that  the  Holy  Ghost's  agency  in  the  conversion  of  sinners  is  con- 
fined exclusively  to  the  inspiration  of  the  tVord.  The  denial,  in 
other  words,  of  the  direct  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  con- 
version of  sinners.  The  idea  was  comparatively  new  to  me,  and  she 
was  fond  of  presenting,  and  strongly  presenting,  her  views.  I  al- 
ways had  such  a  distrust  of  my  own  ability  that  I  always  shrank, 
and  do  yet,  from  controversy  in  private,  either  on  religion  or  pol- 
itics. I  did  the  best  I  could  to  get  out  of  the  scrape.  I  do  not 
know  how  I  sustained  myself,  but  that  was  my  first  theological 
encounter  in  Green sburg. 

On  Sabbath  morning  it  was  rather  cool  and  I  returned 
to  the  hotel  to  get  my  overcoat.  I  went  into  the  right 
hand  room,  what  was  then  called  the  bar-room,  the  place  where 
they  kept  the  spirits  for  stimulation.  They  have  put  it  out,  I  be- 
lieve, into  an  outside  place,  and  I  hope  they  will  put  it  out 
farther  after  a  little.  But  I  went  into  the  bar-room  and  got  my 
coat,  and  as  I  came  out  into  the  hall  two  young  men  came  in  at 
the  front  door.  There  was  another  young  man  in  the  right  hand 
end  of  the  hall.  He  said  to  these  two  young  men  that  came  in, 
"Where  are  you  going  ? "  They  were  dressed  and  looked  as  if 
they  were  going  somewhere.  "Where  are  you  going?"  The 
taller  of  the  other  voung  men  said,  "We  are  going  to  hear  a  loco 
foco  preach."  They  had  never  seen  me  and  did  not  know  that  I 
was  on  hands,  but  they  knew  that  my  father  was  a  democrat  of 
the  strictest  sect,  and  as  I  had  been  brought  up  on  good  demo- 
cratic skim-milk,  concluded  that  I  was  likely  a  loco  foco.  I  re- 
turned to  the  house,  and  when  I  went  to  preach  I  found  these 
two  young  men  sitting  in  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  centre  of 
the  church,  and  I  suppose  they  found  out  who  the  loco  foco  was. 

Now,  that  is  about  all  the  reminiscences  I  have  of  the  church 
of  Greensburg.  It  was  then  a  small  affair  in  comparison  with 
what  it  is  now.  The  house  in  which  I  preached  has  been  de- 
scribed to  you  more  than  once  during  this  occasion.  I  look  back 
to  those  times  with  wonder  and  astonishment  at  the  way  the 
Lord  is  developing  the  churches  in  this  country  since  that  time, 
and  especially  at  the  way  the  Lord  has  led  me  during  all  these 
nearly  fifty  years. 

I  have  another  link  of  connection  with  this  church  which  is 
very  gratifying  to  me.  One  of  the  pastors  who  addressed  you 
last  night — the  first  one — was  a  class-mate  of  mine  at  the  Semi- 
nary, and  has  been  a  very  dear  friend  during  my  whole  minister- 
ial life.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the  considerably  large  class  in  the 
Seminary  in  which  I  graduated  with  whom  I  have  maintained  a 
correspondence,  more  or  less  regular,  during  all  these  forty-eight 
years.  He  was  with  me  on  the  interesting  occasion  of  my  first 
marriage,  as  my  best  man,  and  he  has  been  my  right  hand  man 
on  many   occasions    since    that    time.     I  thank  God  that  he  has 


139 

spared  him  and  me  to  this  hour  to  unite  witli  you  in  this  very 
pleasant  and  interesting  service.  I  have  another  connection  still 
witli  you.  The  pastor  whom  you  now  have  is,  in  part,  bone  of 
my  bone  and  tiesh  of  my  flesh.  He  is  my  first  cousin,  according 
to  the  flesli.  His  father  was  my  mother's  brother,  and,  therefore, 
I  feel  a  deep  interest,  and  have  all  along  felt  a  deep  interest,  in 
the  congregation  of  Greensburg,  and  1  can  honestly  say  that  I  do 
not  think  there  is  any  other  church  in  the  whole  Presbytery  of 
Blairsville  that  has  changed  so  much  for  the  better  during  the 
years  of  my  acquaintance  with  this  Presbytery.  When  I  entered 
this  Presbytery  there  were  some  able  and  eminent  men  in  it. 
There  is  not  one  living  now,  I  think,  but  one,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbytery  when  I  was  ordained.  All  the  Fathers  have 
passed  away.  There  was  Father  I>aird,  Father  Graham,  Father 
Johnston,  Father  McFarren,  Torrence,  Lewis  and  Davis,  my  own 
co-pastor,  Swan,  and  Gillett,  and  Kirkpatrick.  They  have  all 
passed  away  ;  and  others  that  perhaps  I  have  overlooked.  One 
generation  goes  and  another  comes. 

It  is  a  blessed  thing,  my  friends,  to  have  a  name  and  a  place 
in  God's  house,  and  to  have  a  share  in  doing  God's  work.  We 
are  all  passing  on,  and  I  hope  passing  up.  Let  us  be  faithful 
unto  death  and  we  shall  each,  in  our  turn,  receive  the  Crown  of 
Life.  It  gives  my  heart  great  joy  to  be  with  you  here  to-day  and 
to  see  the  prosperity  of  this  church,  as  indicated  in  the  building 
and  in  the  accessions  which  have  been  made  all  along,  and  es- 
pecially at  your  last  communion,  showing  that  God  is  with  you, 
of  a  truth,  and  that  promise  of  the  future  is  even  greater  than 
the  experience  of  the  past. 


REMARKS  OF  "FATHER"  TOWNSEND. 


As  I  listened  to  the  remarks  last  night  and  this  morning,  es- 
pecially to  those  of  Brother  Gill  and  Brother  Moorhead,  I  was 
reminded  of  something  I  read  in  some  one  of  the  papers,  I  think 
in  the  Interior,  about  a  Pennsylvania  Dutchman  who  was  awak- 
ened at  night  by  some  of  his  neighbors  during  the  meteoric 
shower  in  1833.  They  all  thought  the  world  was  coming  to  an 
end  and  he  had  better  be  up  looking  at  it.  He  went  to  the  door 
and  looked  a  little  while,  and  he  said,  "If  dot  keeps  on,  de  stars 
will  be  knee-deep  before  morning."  I  feel  that  I  stand  clear  up 
to  the  throat  in  beautiful  gems  of  thought,  and  if  it  should  con- 
tinue for  another  hour  I  think  the  tallest  man  in  Greensburg 
would  not  be  able  to  see  out  ;  and  I  believe  that  there  has  been 
about  enough  said.  I  want  to  say  this,  however.  I  received  a 
letter  from  the  pastor  of  this   church,   some  time  ago,  asking  me 


I40 

to  reminisce  here,  on  this  occasion,  and  this  is  about  the  insulting 
way  in  which  he  put  it:  "As  you  are  an  old  man,  and  full  of 
years,  if  full  of  nothing  else,  and  as  you  are  pastor  of  one  of  the 
churches  which  formed  the  pastoral  charge  of  Greensburg  and 
Unity,  at  one  time,  we  want  you  to  be  here  to  reiniiiisce  on  the 
occasion  of  our  centennial.  If  you  do  not  know  exactly  what  to 
say,  you  can  tell  the  people  how  the  Indians  used  to  shoot 
coons  off  the  apple  trees  in  the  back  yards  of  Greensburg  when 
you  were  a  boy,  and  how  the  women  of  Greensburg  used  to  walk 
to  Unity  with  their  children  on  their  backs.  Of  course,  there  is 
no  truth  in  this,  bvit  reminiscences  are  scarce,  and  we  must  have 
some,  even  if  they  do  come  high."  I  was  not  there.  I  take  his 
word  for  it.  I  do  not  give  these  reminiscences  on  my  own  ex- 
perience or.  observation.  As  pastor  of  the  church  of  Unity, 
which  once  formed  a  part  of  this  charge,  and  for  nearly  forty 
years  was  so  intimately  associated  with  it,  I  feel  interested,  and 
exceedingly  glad  to  be  here.  And,  indeed,  I  have  enjoyed  very 
much — as  much  as  any  man  could — these  long  speeches,  every 
one  of  them.  They  were  long,  but  they  were  just  as  good  as  they 
were  long,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  anybody  will  get  tired  read- 
ing them  over.     They  are  sprinkled  like  a  meteoric  shower. 

Well,  I  come  from  a  church  that  is  fourteen  years  older  than 
yours.  We  celebrated  our  centennial  fourteen  years  ago.  At 
one  time  Hannastown  forrned  a  part  of  Unity  church.  One  of 
the  first  elders  of  the  Unity  church  was  the  first  Judge  of  West- 
moreland county.  Our  church  is  just  two  years  older  than  the 
United  States,  and  just  one  year  younger  than  Westmoreland 
county.  I  believe  this  last  statement  is  correct.  I  know  the  first 
is  correct.  Now,  the  decrease  of  Hannastown  was  the  increase 
of  Greensburg.  I  think  the  Fathers  were  very  foolish  that 
they  did  not  take  the  county  seat  to  Unity.  I  have  thought  of 
the  consequences  if  they  had  done  so.  I  would  have  been  Dr. 
Townsend  and  he  would  have  been  Rev.  W.  W.  Moorhead;  and  all 
the  other  consequences,  I  suppose,  would  have  followed,  just  the 
reverse  of  what  they  have  been.  But  I  cannot  help  it.  If  I  had 
been  one  of  them  I  would  have  seen  to  that,  no  doubt.  I  am 
exceedingly  delighted  to  be  in  this  meeting  of  the  church.  When, 
fourteen  years  ago,  we  dedicated  our  new  church,  I  thought  it 
was  the  finest  church  building  that  ever  was  erected,  and  I 
thought  it  certainly  was  a  very  successful  and  delightful  enter- 
prise for  that  people.  I  tell  you,  Brother  Moorhead,  I  would 
not  give  Unity  yet  for  Greensburg,  if  we  just  had  some  more 
people  out  there.  We  have  a  fine  nest,  a  beautiful  place  to  live, 
and  a  delightful  congregation  to  work  in.  I  am  glad  to  find, 
however,  that  here  you  grow  and  prosper,  numerically  as  well  as 
spiritually,  and  that  you  are  so  active  and  full  of  religious 
enterprise. 

I  took  down  a  few  notes  that  I  intended  to  spread  out  before 
you  this  morning,  and  meant  to  say  some  things  with  regard  to 
the  progress  of  the  church  in  this    community,   and  with  regard 


141 

to  the  progress  of  tlie  community,  but  I  would  not  undertake  it  at 
all  at  this  late  hour.  There  are  other  brethren  here  to  miii/iisct' 
and  I  shall  not  undertake  to  say  anything  furtlier. 


REV.  T.  R.  EWING,  D.  D. 


Your  pastor  was  kind  enough  to  prepare  my  speech  for 
me  also.  I  suppose  it  would  hardly  be  fair  for  me  to  get  up  and 
put  it  off  as  my  own,  after  Brother  Townsend  has  shown  me  the 
example  of  frankly  confessing  that  his  had  been  prepared  for 
him.  I  asked  Brother  Townsend,  when  we  met,  a  few  days  ago, 
and  compared  notes,  with  regard  to  this  coming  occasion,  how 
he  got  along  in  deciphering  the  manuscript  of  the  speech  that 
had  been  prepared  for  him,  and  he  gave  me  a  little  description 
of  how  he  did  it.      He  read  it,  or  tried  to  read  it. 

Mr.  Moorhead — Oh!  that  is  too  fresh  for  a  reminiscence. 
That  only  occurred  the  other  day. 

Dr.  Ewing — I  want  to  describe,  a  little,  how  Brother  Town- 
send  made  out  the  speech,  and  then  you  will  have  some  sympa- 
thy for  me. 

He  said  he  first  read  it  over,  or  tried  to  read  it  over,  but  it  was 
no  go.  He  did  not  expect  ever,  at  the  first  attempt,  to  make  out 
more  than  a  word  here  and  there,  but  he  generally  did  manage  to 
get  some  idea  as  to  what  he  was  talking  about.  And  then,  after 
that,  he  gave  it  another  reading,  and  still  a  third  reading,  and  then, 
still,  there  were  words  in  it  that  he  could  not  make  out.  If,  then, 
I  am  not  very  familiar  with  my  speech,  I  am  not  wholly  to  blame 
f(ir  it.  I  should  not  have  referred  to  his  hand-writing,  but  he 
suggested  it  himself.  He  speaks  of  it  as  if  it  was  something- 
horrible.  But  if  it  is,  that  was  the  subject  he  assigned 
to  me.  He  did  not  absolutely  put  it  into  my  hands,  but  said  he 
supposed  his  chirography  would  be  assigned  to  some  one,  and 
seemed  to  suggest  the  idea  that  it  might  possibly  be  assigned  to 
me.  He  said,  of  course  no  one  would  dispute  with  me  that  story 
about  his  sickness.  He  expected  that  I  would  get  that  off.  The 
story  is  as  follows  : 

I  called  on  him  once  when  he  was  very  sick,  and  whilst  I 
was  talking  with  him  he  referred  to  the  fact  of  how,  oftentimes, 
he  had  been  out  of  sorts.  I  never  saw  him,  before  or  since,  in 
so  penitent  and  humble  a  frame  of  mind.  You  may  know,  from 
that,  that  he  was  quite  sick,  indeed.  He  said  if  the  brethren 
of  Presbytery  only  knew  what  a  bad  liver  he  had,  they  would 
have  a  great  deal  more  charity  for  him  than  they  ordinarily 
have.  As  some  of  you  know,  1  was  here  for  a  few  months  trying 
to  take  his  place — rattling  around  in  his  shoes — as  some  one  has 


142 

said  of  getting  into  a  place  very  much  too  large  for  him.  He  re- 
turned that  season,  before  I  left,  and  I  found  he  was  pretty  fully 
restored  to  health,  because,  one  morning  at  breakfast,  although 
at  his  own  table,  and,  of  course,  he  was  the  host  of  the  occasion, 
yet  he  showed  just  as  much  caiitankerousness  as  ever  he  had  be- 
fore, and  grumbled  and  carried  on  to  such  an  extent  that  I  had 
to  refer  to  the  season  through  which  he  had  passed  some  months 
before,  in  which  he  was  so  exceedingly  penitent. 

I  remember  another  thing  with  reference  to  him,  also,  and 
then  I  shall  have  pretty  nearly  used  up  all  the  material  that  he 
gave  me  in  that  letter.  It  was  toward  the  close  of  my  service  here 
as  co-pastor  or  stated  supply,  or  whatever  you  may  see  fit  to  call 
it.  I  made  the  suggestion  to  him  that  perhaps  he  had  better  be 
looking  out  for  a  field  of  labor  somewhere  else.  I  did  not  realize 
what  a  double-edged  sword  I  was  putting  into  his  hands,  and 
that  he  had  malice  enough  in  his  heart  to  use  it.  "Yes,"  he  said, 
"I  think  that  is  true,  because  by  the  time  I  get  back  you  will 
have  so  scattered  the  congregation  that  it  will  be  impossible  for 
me  to  ever  gather  them  together  again."  I  am  led  to  think  that 
not  only  was  that  the  view  of  your  past(M,  but  I  have  reason  to 
know,  also,  that,  to  some  extent,  that  was  the  view  of  some  of  the 
people.  I  happen  to  have  some  relatives  in  the  congregation, 
and  perhaps  the  relationship  was  not  always  known  to  others. 
And,  on  one  occasion,  some  one,  in  speaking  to  one  of  my  rela- 
tives in  the  congregation,  very  freely  expressed  a  great  deal  of 
commiseration  for  the  young  ladies  of  the  Seminary.  They 
seemed  to  think  that  if  they  suffered  so  much  during  the  brief 
time  that  they  came,  once  a  week,  to  hear  me,  what  must  those 
young  ladies  endure  who  had  to  hear  me  from  day  to  day. 

But  I  am  exceedingly  glad  to  be  present  with  you,  and  to 
rejoice  with  you  in  your  present  prosperity  and  in  your  future 
prospects,  and  I  feel  sure,  with  the  indication  of  the  present, 
that  with  God's  blessing,  a  century  to  come  will  be  far  more 
fruitful,  in  the  way  of  building  up  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  than 
even  the  century  that  is  passed,  with  all  its  marvelous  growth. 


DR.   HILL. 


The  allusion  made  by  Brother  Ewing  to  the  hand-writing  of 
your  pastor  reminds  me  of  a  recent  occurrence.  I  had  an  agent 
for  a  type  writer  in  my  house  a  short  time  ago.  He  was  urging 
me  to  buy  it,  and  telling  me  who  had  bought,  and  who  had  not, 
and  whom  he  had  seen,  and  whom  he  had  not.  He  said  Dr. 
Moorhead  was  out  when  he  was  in  Greensburg,  but -that  he  had 
been  among  the  printers  in  this  town  and  that  one  of  them  had 
said  :     "For  mercy's  sake,  do  sell  one  to  Mr.  Moorhead!" 


143 
REV.  D.  W.  TOWN  SEND. 


I  do  not  like  this  thins^  to  be  all  on  one  side,  so  I  want  to 
tell  von  something  about  some  other  man's  chirography.  I  can 
read  Brother  Evving's  hand-writing  just  about  as  well  as  J^rother 
Moorhead's.     I  have  this  little  story  to  tell  on  him  : 

On  one  occasion,  at  our  house,  we  had  all  gone  to  bed,  and 
we  were  sleeping  within  hearing  of  each  other,  in  three  dif- 
ferent rooms.  When  I  thought  everybody  was  asleep  but  myself, 
one  of  the  little  boys  said  (we  had  just  received  a  letter  from 
Brother  Ewing  and  we  could  not  read  it  at  all,  the  whole  of  us). 
Well,  he  was  thinking  about  it  in  bed,  and  he  said,  soliloquizing  : 
"Well,  I  do  think  that  if  Belshazzar  had  seen  T.  R.  Ewing's 
hand-writing  he  would  have  been  worse  scared  than  he  was." 

Rev.  Moorhead  then  introduced  Rev.  J.  P.  Kennedy,  as  fol- 
lows :  We  have  another  Brother  here  from  whom  I  would  like  to 
hear,  and  then,  after  we  hear  him,  we  will  hear  something  worth 
while  from  the  others.     Brother  Kennedy  will  now  reminisce. 


REV.  J.   P.   KENNEDY. 


1  have  no  reminiscences  to  give,  and  the  introduction  just- 
given  me  would  rather  sp(Ml  a  speech  if  I  had  one.  But  one 
thing  surprised  me  very  much,  and  that  was  to  hear  of  Brother 
Ewing's  failure  to  read  the  manuscript  of  Brother  Moorhead. 
That  was  the  most  marvelous  thing  I  noticed,  because,  I  think,  if 
an\  man  cc?/////  read  it,  he  could  have  read  it  himself,  as  they  both 
write  about  the  same  kind  of  an  unknown  hand. 

I  received  a  communication  from  Brother  Moorhead  asking 
me  to  make  some  reminiscences — I  found  that  out  after  I  had 
the  communication  awhile — and  then  he  went  on  to  insinuate 
that,  perhaps,  I  did  not  know  what  a  reminiscence  was  .He  said 
if  I  did  not  know  1  had  better  look  at  the  dictionary,  and  if  I 
hadn't  a  dictionary  I  had  better  borrow  one  from  Bro.  Gordon,  I 
think  it  was.  Well,  that  discouraged  me  from  trying  to 
make  a  speech  altogether.  But  I  would  say  now  that  I 
have  very  little  knowledge  of  the  church  of  (jreensburg. 
I  have  been  here  frequently  and  have  nlways  enjoyed 
myself  when  I  have  been  here,  at  Presbytery.  I  have 
never  preached  in  the  pulpit  of  this  church,  and  am 
rather  glad  of  it,  because  I  am  now  sure  that  the  criticism  made 
about  the  man's  sermon,  that  was  not  about  anything,  did  not  re- 


144 

fer  to  any  preachina:  of  mine.  I  am  glad  to  be  here,  and  am  glad 
to  hear  all  these  encouraging  things  fi'om  this  congregation.  I 
can  remember  enough  about  this  congregation  to  kncjvv  that  it 
has  prospered  lately  very  much.  I  rejoice  in  the  prosperity  of 
this  church,  and  rejoice  to  think  that  this  prosperity  will  be  con- 
tinued.    I  have  no  speech  to  make,  however. 


REV.  F.  L.  SENOUR. 


I  did  not  come  with  the  slightest  expectation  of  saying  a 
word  on  this  occasion.  Brother  Moorhead  did  not  write  to  me 
inviting  me  to  make  a  speech  and  telling  me  what  to  say,  else  I 
would  have  been  prepared. 

Dk.  Moorhead — I  knew  you  could  make  a  speech  without 
being  told  what  to  say. 

Rev.  Senour — Perhaps  it  is  just  as  well  he  did  not  write  to 
me,  for  I  do  not  believe  I  could  have  read  his  letter;  and  if  he 
had  deputized  Dr.  Ewing  as  his  clerk  I  am  sure  I  could  not  have 
read  it.  So  that  if  I  say  anything  on  this  occasion  I  shall  be 
obliged  just  to  say  what  comes  up  in  my  mind  first. 

I  want  to  congratulate  Dr.  Moorhead  on  the  manner  in 
which  he  has  performed  his  part  in  this  centennial.  I  doubt 
very  much  whether  anv  one  who  has  never  undertaken  to  pre- 
pare a  paper  such  as  he  has  read  will  have  much  idea  of  the 
amount  of  labor  that  it  calls  forth.  So  many  of  the  records  are 
defective  ;  so  many  of  the  records  are  lost.  Now,  I  have  been 
through  this  in  writing  the  semi-centennial  history  of 
the  church  of  New  Alexandria,  and  I  know  something 
of  the  labor;  and,  therefore,  I  wish  to  congratulate  him 
on  the  manner  in  which  he  has  succeeded  in  bring- 
ing up  the  past  history  of  this  church.  And  I  think  the  congre- 
gation deserve  to  be  congratulated  on  the  manner  in  which  they 
have  been  enabled  to  conduct  tliese  exercises.  I  do  not  believe 
that  ever  I  attended  an  occasion  of  the  kind  that  I  have  enjoyed 
so  much  as  I  have  all  these  services  on  this  occasion.  Now, 
there  is  just  one  more  thing  that  I  want  to  call  attention  to.  I 
know  that  some  of  our  churches  here,  we  do  not  hear  v  ery  much 
about  them.  We  have  heard  a  good  deal  about  the  Unity  church 
tliis  morning,  but  I  believe  this  is  the  first  time  I  have  heard  of 
them  for  a  long  time.  We  did  not  hear  very  much  about  the 
church  of  New  Alexandria,  although  it  is  a  neighboring  church 
to  this,  and  we  imagine  that  we  have  a  most  excellent 
church.  I  want  to  tell  you  a  little  thing  that  1  did  not 
know  when  1  was  writing  the  history  for  our  semi-cen- 
nial  celebration.  I  say  a  little  thing  —  it  is  one  of  the 
biggest  things  that  ever  happened  in  this  world.     1  do  not   know 


145 

Iiovv  sorry  I  have  been  ever  since  that  I  did  not  know  that 
the  preacher  that  you  see  passing  to  and  fro  on  that  platform  is 
the  product  of  the  church  of  New  Alexandria,  and  we  are  proud 
of  it.  He  was,  for  a  time,  a  member  of  that  church,  and  1  never 
knew  it.  I  make  this  public  acknowledgment  of  it  and  this  public 
apology  for  it.  I  am  going  to  send  his  name  down  to  the  cen- 
tennial celebration  of  that  church. 

Dr.  Moorhkad,  (after  a  pause) — I  want  to  give  you  all  a 
chance  to  say  what  you  have  to  say,  because,  you  know,  some- 
times persons  think  afterwards  of  what  they  might  have  said,  and 
didn't,  and  regret  it.  1  remember  an  instance  of  that  kind  my- 
self :  Some  of  you  remember  when  I  came  to  Greensburg,  I 
wore  a  very  bad  hat.  It  looked  as  if  it  had  been  in  a  collision  be- 
tween a  Kansas  cyclone  and  a  Dakota  blizzard.  One  day  I  went 
to  Pittsburgh,  and  was  going  to  get  a  new  one.  However,  before 
making  a  purchase,  I  met  Dr.  Hill  there,  and,  as  he  had  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  my  coming  to  Greensburg,  I  suppose  he  felt 
some  responsibility  for  me,  and,  said  he:  "Wallace,  if  you  have 
not  got  money  enough  to  get  a  better  hat  than  that,  I  will  buy 
vou  one;"  and  I,  like  a  fool,  instead  of  allowing  him  to  do  it,  told 
him  I  was  just  going  to  get  one. 

Now,  if  any  of  you  have  ever  thought  of  just  the  best  joke 
of  the  evening  after  it  was  too  late  to  tell  it,  then  you  can  im- 
agine my  feelings  when  1  thought  of  my  lost  opportunity.  So  I 
do  not  want  any  of  you  to  go  away  feeling  that  you  might  have 
gotten  off  something  good,  and  did  not  do  it. 


REV.  W.  H.  GILL. 


I  am  almost  ashamed  to  let  my  voice  be  heard,  but  I  want  to 
bear  testimony  to  my  deep  S3'mpathy  with  Brother  Gilson  and 
all  the  rest  in  their  attempts  to  grapple  with  the  letters  of  invi- 
tation sent  out  by  Bro.  Moorhead.  1  remember,  1  had  to  send 
one,  1  believe,  back,  to  ask  for  a  translation,  and  I  remember, 
also,  that  when  I  was  trying  to  read  it,  the  same  thought  came  to 
my  mind  presented  by  Brother  Townsend.  1  thought  that  if  the 
"hand-writing  on  the  wall"  had  been  in  the  chirography  of  Bro. 
Moorhead,  Daniel,  himself,  would  have  had  a  great  deal  more 
difficulty  in  deciphering  it. 

I  am  not  so  very  old,  and  yet  I  do  not  know  that  in  this 
Presbytery  of  Blairsville  there  are  more  than  two  present  that 
were  members  when  1  was  pastor  of  this  church;  there  is  Dr. 
Hill,  and  here  is  "Father"  Townsend.  Except  these  two,  I  be- 
lieve there  are  none  who  wore  members  of  the  Presbytery  at 
that  time. 

I  am  exceedingly  grateful  and  glad  that  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  being  here  to-day;  and   I  do  not  think  there  could  be  a  more 


146 

fitting  climax  to  a  "Hundred  Years"  tliau  tlaat  which  our  eyes 
are  permitted  to  gaze  upon  on  tliis  occasion.  The  Century  phmt, 
which  had  a  beginning,  very  small,  has  been  grcjwing  through 
the  years  and  extending  itself  until  it  has  now  attained  the  grand 
proportions  which  our  eyes  are  permitted  to  behold. 

There  is  one  thing  that  has  struck  me — the  great  modesty, 
the  real  modesty,  of  the  people  of  Greensburg.  They  have  not 
said  very  much  themselves  about  their  achievements — about  the 
really  great  work  they  have  done.  They  have  not  been  like  the 
hen  that  lays  an  egg,  and  then  makes  a  great  noise  and  cackles 
about  it.  I  think  it  is  due  to  the  pastor  and  people  here,  that  the 
fact  that  this  work  has  been  finished  so  completely,  leaving  noth- 
ing more  to  be  done,  should  be  a  little  emphasized.  The  chinch 
is  beautiful  and  attractive,  and  well  built  ;  able  to  remain  for  a 
century,  an  now  freed  from  that  bane  of  so  many  fine  churches, 
a  mortgage.  It  is  a  matter  of  sincere  congratulation  that  the 
mortgage  which  has  been  sitting  on  this  roof  has  been  driven 
forth,  and  that,  to-day,  in  these  Centennial  services,  the  people 
here  can  rejoice  in  the  fact  that  this  large  and  beautiful  edifice 
is  paid  for.  That  has  been  done,  and  it  was  more  than  done.  It 
is  a  cause  of  sincere  rejoicing  to  me  that  that  is  the  fact;  that 
this  large  amount  of  indebtedness  has  been  discharged,  and 
even  more  than  was  needed  contributed  by  the  people  of  this 
place.  1  wish  simply  to  congratulate  the  pastor  that  God  has 
given  him  strength  to  go  through  witli  all  this  work.  I  remem- 
ber, when  I  came  here  to  visit,  some  years  ago,  the  pastor  was 
considerably  perplexed.  It  was  pretty  difficult  to  get  such  a 
large  machine  in  motion.  Some  of  the  brethren  in  the  church 
had  got  pretty  nearly  stalled,  I  think,  in  their  attempts  to  get  the 
money  to  warrant  going  on  with  the  structure  ;  and  Bro.  Moor- 
head,  himself,  was  scratching  his  head,  and  in  some  considerable 
perplexity  about  it.  I  remember  of  saying  to  him  :  "Here;  if 
you  want  this  thing  done,  you  had  better  do  it  yourself  ;  1  will 
engage  to  be  responsible  for  the  services  next  Sunday,  and  for 
the  services  during  the  week,  if  you  will  contract  with  me  to 
start  out  on  Monday  morning  and  go  around  the  congregation 
to  see  what  can  be  done.  If  you  will  be  faithful  to  your 
contract,  I  will  do  the  best  to  fidfill  my  part." 

I  remember,  bright  and  early  Monday  morning,  Bro.  Moor- 
head  was  out  in  his  buggy,  and  he  made  the  rounds,  and,  before 
Saturday  night,  the  church  building  you  now  see  was  an  assured 
fact.  I  wish  simply  to  say  this  now,  for  the  brethren  here  have 
been  too  modest  to  say  it  for  themselves.  I  think  there  ought  to 
be  a  little  crowing.  1  think  that  was  a  grand  effort,  and  1  think 
we  ought  to  congratulate  this  people  for  what  they  have  done. 
I  am  exceedingly  glad  to  have  been  here  and  shared  in  these  Cen- 
tennial services. 

Dr.  Mi^orhead — I  am  glad  the  last  speaker  referred  to  my 
chirography,  as  that  subject  cavie  near  being  overlooked. 


A7 


MEMBERS 

AT    THE 

TIME  UF  THE  CENTENNIAL. 


Agnew,  James 
Agnevv,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Allsvvorth,  Sarah 
Armstrong,  James 
Armstrong,  Mrs.  Rachel 
x^rmstrong,  Isabel 
Armstrong,  John 
x\rmstrong,  Elizabeth  F. 
Armstrong,  Isabel  J. 
Armstrong,  Kizzie  C. 
Algire,  Joseph 
Algire,  Sarah  A. 
Algire,  John  P. 
Alcorn,  Mrs.  Maggie  D, 
Amalong,  Jacob  S. 
Amalong,  Anna  B. 
Aubley,  Samuel  I. 
Anderson,  William 
Allshouse,  Charles  E. 
Bennett,  Mrs.    Rebecca 
Bennett,  Anna  R. 
Birclay,  George 
Barclay,  Mrs.  Catharine 
Best,  Mrs.  Anna 
Best,  John  W. 
Best,  Mrs.  Emma 
Berrv,  Mrs.  Catharine 
Brown,  Will 
Brown,  Mrs.  Milly 
Byers,   Henry 
Bray,  Mrs.  Carrie 
Butterfield,  Mrs.  Maria 


Black,  John  A. 
Black,  Mrs.  Mary  L. 
Black,  Carrie 
Boyd,  Henry  C. 
Boyd,  Rose  G. 
Black,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Black,  Jennie  W. 
Black,  Sallie 
Black,  Lizzie  M. 
Blank.  Mrs.  Kate 
Brenizer,  Mrs.  Nettie  R. 
Bothel,  Clara  E. 
Brugh,  Mattie 
Brady,  Mrs.   Sarah 
Butterfield,  Anna 
Bray,  Mary  C. 
Butterfield,  Ella 
Black,  Jessie  L. 
Best,  William 
Berlin,  Edward  H. 
Brown,  Samuel  P. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Maggie  A. 
Baird,  Blanche 
Byers,  William  J. 
Byers,  Mrs.   Mary  E. 
Black,  J.  Audley 
Butterfield,  Grace  W. 
Bassett,  Sarah  VV. 
Brown,  Hettie  N. 
Brown,  James  R.  L. 
Brown,  Kate  Millicent 
Brown,  Mrs.  Anna 


148 


Bissell,  M.  Gertrude 
Best,  Daisy  L. 
Bray,  Sadie  F. 
Butterfield,  Cora 
Best,  Andrew  G. 
Brown,  Milly  Eyster 
Colledge,  Mrs.    Martha 
Cline,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Cherry,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Coulter,  Mrs.   Emma 
Coulter,  Margaret 
Clark,  Harriet 
Culbertson,  Mrs.  Amanda 
Culbertson,  Lavina 
Cope,  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
Clingan,  John 
Clingan,  Mrs.  Jane 
Clingan,  Maggie  J.  R. 
Culbertson,   George 
Culbertson  Mrs.  Jennie 
Cochran,  Laura  C. 
Cline,  James  B. 
Curns,  Mrs.   Mary  E. 
Curns,  Sallie  J. 
Curns,  Britta  M. 
Caldwell,  Mrs.  Anna  L. 
Caldwell,  Mrs.  Annie 
Colledge,  Mary  M. 
Colledge,  Anna  C, 
Campbell,   George 
Coshey,  Mrs.  Maggie  F. 
Crawford,  J.  S. 
Cope,  Henry 
Cline,  Sarah  Blanche 
Clingan,  Anna  M. 
Cline,  Alberta  A. 
Cherry,  Mary  M. 
Colledge,  George  L. 
Casper,  Nicholas 
Cope,  Maggie  M. 
Coulter,  Richard,  Jr. 
Colledge,  William 
Drum,  Emily 
Dobson,  Samuel 
Dobson,  Mrs.  Susan 
Dalbey,  Deborah 
Dalbey,  Clara 
Doncsater,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Davis,  Lizzie 
Dewalt,  W.  P. 


Dewalt,  Lucy  A. 
Dewalt,  Calvin  C. 
Dewalt,  Mrs.  Mary  L. 
Doty,  Lucian  W. 
Doty,  Mrs.  Anna  M. 
Davis,  Lemon  W.  H. 
Davis,  Sadie  L. 
Davis,  James 
Davis,  Mrs.  Louisa  M. 
Davis,  Mrs.  A.   C. 
Davis,  Mrs.  Mary 
Diehl,  Mrs.  Mariam  B, 
Dora,  William  T. 
Dom,  Mrs.  Jane  B. 
Dixon,  Theodocia 
Dornin,  William 
Diehl,  Walter  R. 
Dalbey,  Clara  E. 
Dalbey,  Frank  R. 
Davis,  Sadie  A. 
Ellis,  James 
Ellis,  Mrs.  L'^abella 
Eicher,  Harry 
Eicher,  Mrs.  Matilda 
Eicher,  Mrs.  Mary  D. 
Evans,  Mrs.  Margaret  B. 
Eisaman,  J.  B. 
Eisaman,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Ellis,  Jennie 
Eicher  Mrs.  Eleanor  M. 
Eicher,  Eleanor  L. 
Fishel,  Fannie 
Fishel,  Margaret 
Fisher,  John  G. 
Fisher,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Fisher,  Frank 
Fisher,  Mrs.  M.  R. 
Foster,  Samuel  S. 
Foster,  Mrs,  Ella  B. 
Fishel,   Mrs.  Rebecca  J. 
Felton,  James  L. 
Ferguson,  David  S. 
Ferguson,  Mrs.  Maggie 
Ferguson,  Samuel  N. 
Francis,  Blair 
Francis,  Mrs.' Jane 
Fishel,  Lillian  May 
Francis,  Mary 
Frazier,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Francis,  John  R. 


149 


Fishel,  Dollie  D. 

Fishel,  Eugiene  J. 

Gilleland,  Mrs.  Zelia 

GulTey,  Mrs.  Barl)ara 

Gwen,  John  H 

Gwen,  Mrs.  Jennie 

Gourley,  Samuel 

Gourley,  Mrs.  Eliza 

Gourley,  David  C. 

Gourley,  Rebecca 

Gourley,  Maria 

Gourley,  Maggie 

Gourley.  Ida  Jane 

Gaither,  Mrs.  Lydia 

Gait  her,  Paul  H. 

Goodman,  John 

Goodman,  Daniel 

Guffey,  Alex.  S. 

Greenawalt,  Henry  M. 

Greenawalt,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M. 

Guffey,  Pauletta  H. 

Gay,  Lizzie 

Guffey,  Joseph  F. 

Harman,  Mrs.  Mary 

Herron  Phcebe 

Hudson,  George 

Hudson,  Mrs.  Nancy 

Houseman.  E.  Finley 

Houseman,  Mrs.   Harriet 

Harvey,  D. 

Hays,  Mrs.  Sarah  J. 

Hudson,  William 

Hill,  Mrs.  Mary  C. 

Hudson,  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 

Hudson,  Mary  E. 

Hays,  Albert  W. 

Hays,  Mrs.  Mary  J. 

Hutchinson,  William 

Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Sarah 

Hope,  Robert  A. 

Hope,  Mrs.   Anna  T. 

Hope,  Ida 

Hope,  Nannie 

Hope,  Elmer 

Hayden,  John 

Hayden,  Mrs.  Jane 

Hodge,  Jennie  H. 

Hodge,  Maggie  A. 

Hood,  John  L. 

Hood,  Mrs.  Martha  J. 


HoUingsworth,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 

Harvey,  J.  W. 

Harvey,  Mrs.  Sarah  M. 

Hammer,  Mrs.  Clara  B. 

Houseman,  Mrs.  Marretta 

Hudson,  Martha  Alice 

Howard,  Mrs.  Kate  D. 

Hays,  William  D. 

Hayes,   Bella  R. 

Henderson,  Christena  May 

Jack,  Priscilla 

Johnston,  Mrs.  Sina 

Johnston,  Mrs.  Louisa 

Jamison,  Jessie 

Jamison,  Amanda 

Jamison,  Jane 

Jamison,  Sarah 

Jones,  Minnie  L. 

Johnston,  Mrs.  Martha  R. 

James,  Emily 

Johns.ton,  Willimina 

Kerr,  Mrs.  Jane 

Kenly,  Mrs.  Lucinda 

Kilgore,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 

Kilgore,  Jessie 

Kilgore,  Mrs.  Mary 

King,  Emma 

King,  Tillie 

Kunkle,  Daniel 

Keenan,  Mrs.  Martha 

Keenan,  William  W. 

Kirkwood,  Thomas 

Kirkvvood,  Mrs.  Rebecca 

Kirkwood,  Mary  J. 

Kirker,  George 

Kirker,  Mrs.  "Mary 

Kirker,  Agnes  M. 

Kerr,  Agnes 

Kerr,  Isabella 

Kilgore,  Mrs.  Lizzie  C. 

Kuhns,  Mrs.  Maryj. 

Kerr,  John 

Kerr,  Mrs.  Agnes 

Kerr,  James  A. 

Kerr,  Mrs.  Margaret 

Keenan,  Mrs.  Eleanor  C. 

Kenly,  Maggie  T. 

Kemerer,  Mrs.  Miriam  E. 

Kilgore,  Mrs.  Maggie 

Kenly,  Caroline  L. 


150 


Karnes,   Charles 
Karnes,  Elizabeth  E. 
Kilgore,  Mrs.  Gertrude 
Kerr,  Alice  J. 
Kimball,  Mrs.  Harriet  T. 
Kilgore,  M.  Elizabeth 
Kilgore,  Mrs.  Sadie  M, 
Kuhn,  Mrs.  Lizzie  E. 
Laird,  Kate  R. 
Laird,  Mrs.   Hetty 
Laird,  J.  M. 
Laird,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Leech,  Letitia 
Leech,  Isabella 
Ludwig,  John  J. 
Ludwig,   Mrs.  Rachel  Z. 
Leech,  Maggie 
Logan,  Mrs.  Sarah  J. 
Logan,  Mattie  M. 
Lomison,  Mrs.  Annie  H. 
Long,  Jacob 
Long,  Mary 
Long,  Catharine 
Long,  Cyrus  F. 
Long,  Mrs.  Barbara 
Luther,  Mrs.  Maggie  E. 
Lowry,  Minnie  B. 
Little,  Mrs.  Amelia  H. 
Lightcap,  John  S. 
Marchand,  Mrs.  Susan 
Mc Williams,  Mrs.  Kate 
McAfee,  James  R. 

McAfee,  Mrs.  Louisa 

McAfee,  Maria 

McFarland,  Samuel 

McFarland,  Russel 

McFarland,  Mrs.  Nancy 

McCausland,  Mrs.  Ann 

Monroe,  William  P. 

Monroe,  Mrs.  Martha 

Miller,  Mrs.  Margaret 

Miller,  Elizabeth 

Miller,  Priscilla 

Miller,  John  D. 

Mace,  John 

Mace,  Mrs.  Laura 

Montgomery,  Agnes  D. 

Montgomery,  Emily  E. 

Marshall,  Mrs.    Euphemia 

Morrison,   Mary 


Moorhead,  Mrs.  Jennie  H. 
Moorhead,  Martha  B. 
Moorhead,  Mary  Foster 
Meason,  Mrs.   Kate  M. 
Meanor,  Michael  R. 
Meanor,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Meanor,  Craig  C. 
Maxwell,  Josiah 
Maxwell,  Mrs.  Sophia 
Maxwell,  Jacob 
Maxwell,  Mrs.  Kate 
Maxwell,  Joseph 
McWilliams,  James  L. 
McVVilliams,  Mrs.  Anna  M. 
McCurdy,  Ralston  C. 
McCurdy,  Mrs.  Mary  Bell 
Morrow,  James 
Morrow,  Mrs.  Jane 
Morrow,  William  H. 
McQuaide,  Mrs.  Jane  R. 
McQuaide,  Sarah  R. 
McQuaide,  Lizzie 
McQuaide,  Rebecca 
McQuaide,  Nannie  M. 
McCurdy,  Joseph 
Mullen,  Robert  C. 
Mullen,  Mrs.  Anna 
McElfresh,  John  M. 
McElfresh,  Mrs.  Emma  E. 
Murdock,  Mrs.  M.  M. 
Machesney,  Andrew 
Machesney,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Machesney  Eliza  S. 
Moore,  Mary  Jo. 
Mull,  John  F. 
Mull,  Mrs.  Lizzie  K. 

McGeary,  Mrs.  S.  A. 

McGeary,  Mary  Jane 

McAfee,  William 

McAfee,  Mrs.   Bathilda 

Matthews,  John 

McFarland,  James  Edward 

McFarland,  Mrs.  Angeline  L. 

Moorhead,  Mrs.    Elizabeth  W. 

Moorhead,  Mary  Singer 

McCullogh,  Mrs.  Ada 

McWilliams,  Kate  E. 

Monroe,  Jennie  H. 

McConnell,  Mrs.  Ella  J. 

McWilliams,  Virginia  Gates 


151 


Monroe.  S.  Kli/al)cth 
Morrow,  William    K. 
McCurdy,  Frank  R. 
McFarland,  Nannie   E. 
Nesbitt,   Nora 
Naill,  Theodore  L. 
Naill,  Mrs.  Amanda 
Naill,  William  T. 
Naill,  Edith  O. 
Null,  Eleanor  N. 
Overly,  Alexander 
Owens,  jauies 
Owens,  Mrs.   Elizabeth 
Owens,  Anna  B. 
Owens,  James  Beatty 
Owens,  George  S. 
Owens,  Mrs.  .-arah 
Ogden,  Mrs.  Anna  W. 
Orr,  J.  M. 
Orr,  Mrs.  Susanna 
Orr,  Kate 
Orr,  Emma  J. 
Orr,  Bella 
Orr,  Mrs.    Arma 
Offut,  Lt  muel 
Offut,  Mrs.  Sarah  1). 
Patterson,  Mrs.  Anna 
Patterson,  Hannah 
Patterson,  Anna  E. 
Patterson,  Thomas 
Patterson,  Mrs.    Margaret 
Patterson,   J.  Kerr 
Patterson,  Mrs.  Adela  C. 
Pattersoii,  Clarence  D. 
Parks,  William 
Parks,  Mrs.  Emma 
Peoples,  John  M. 
Peoples.  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Peoples,  Mrs.  Anna  M. 
Philips,  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Peterson,  Sadie  C. 
Pooler,  George  W. 
Painter,  Mrs.  Harriet 
Painter,  Carrie 
Pitt,  John  E. 
Pitt,  Mrs.  Sarah    E. 
Porter,  Clifford  J. 
Parks,  Mary  VV. 
Parks,  Fannie  E. 
Rowe,  Mrs.  Maria  J. 


Reamer,  Mrs.  Marjorie 
Rred.  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
Reed,  Mrs.  Evdia 
Reed,  Mary  J. 
Reed,  Jennie 
Reed,  Maggie  Ellen 
Reed,  Robert  C. 
Reed,  Anna  H. 
Rolev.  Mrs.  Sarah   J. 
Rohy,  Walt 
Reid.  Aletha  M. 
Stouffer,  Mrs.  Maria 
Shryock,   David  W 
Shryock.  Mrs.  Maggie 
Sarver,  Jonathan 
Sarver,  .Anna  M. 
Sarver,  John  W. 
Sarver,  Charles  R. 
Sloan,  Mrs.  Nannie  C 
Sarver.  David 
Sarver.  Kate 
Shaw,  Emilv  R. 
Shaw,  Anna  M, 
Stephenson,  John  V. 
Stephenson.  Mrs.  Emma  W. 
Stark.  CvrusN. 
Stark,  Frank 
Stark,  Mrs.  Mattie 
Snllenbera^er.  Mageie 
Swend,  Mrs.  EnvinaK. 
Stoner,  Joseph  W. 
Stoner,  Mrs.  Fannie  \. 
Snvdam,  Nettie 
Stewart,  James  K. 
Stewart,  Mrs.  Jane  B. 
Sechrist,  Mistenna 
Shields,  James  A. 
.Shields.  Mrs    Snsan  S. 
Shields,  Sarah  A. 
.Snoderass.  Mrs.  Marv  C. 
Sheffier,  Mrs.  T.izzie 
Sheffler,  Mrs    Alice  C. 
Spiegel.  John  S. 
Scott,  Nettie  M. 
Tnrney,   George 
Tnrney,  Mrs.  Lizzie 
Tnrnev,  Emma  K. 
Tnrnev,    Maggie 
Tnrnev,  Jennie  G. 
Turney,  Carrie  M. 


152 


Trauger,  Mrs.  Lavina 
Thomas,  Barnett 
Thomas,  Mrs.  Agnes 
Thomas,  Kate  E. 
Trauger,  Solomon 
Trauger,  Mrs.  Maria 
Towell,  Mrs.  Jennie 
Taylor,  Jeff.  W. 
Thompson,  Samuel  G. 
Thompson,  Mrs.  Joanna 
Tait,  Mrs.   Elizabeth 
Todd,  Mrs.  Lydia  C. 
Tavlor,   Eleanor 
Temple,  Henry 
Temple,  Mrs,  Frances 
Trauger,  Mrs.  Bell  M. 
Truxal,  Frank  L. 
Welty,  Mrs.    Mattie 
Welty,  Mrs.  Barbara  L. 
Welty.  Mrs.  Margaret 
Welty,  Richard  C. 
Welty,  Mrs.  Emma  L. 
Weltv,  Duncan  O. 
Welt'y,  Mrs    Margaret  M. 
Welly,  Nannie 
Welty,  Augustus  D. 
Welty.  Mrs.  Celia  A. 
Woods,  Mrs.  Mary 
White,  Mrs.  Mary  j. 
White,  Anna  M. 
Wilson,  Roxanna 
Wilson,  Nannie 
Weimer,  Mrs.  Mary  K. 
Waugaman,  I.  S. 
Waugaman,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Welty.  Mrs.  Mary 


Welty,  Rebecca 
Withington,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Withington  Mrs.  Mary  T- 
Walker,  David 
Walker,  Mrs.  Mary  W. 
Walker,  Anna  A. 
Walker,  AVilliam  K. 
Walker,  William 
Walker,  Mrs.  Martha 
Wallace,  Mrs.  Mary  C. 
Washington,  Mrs.  Sallie  M. 
Williams,  Isabella  J. 
Woodward,  Mrs    Margaret 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  T. 
Wilson,  Maggie  S. 
Wise,  Mi  Hie"  k. 
Walton.  Mrs    Maria 
Young,  Robert  R. 
Young,  Lavina  E. 
Young,  Frank  M. 
Young,  Albert  R. 
Young,  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Young,  Sallie  R. 
Young,  John  R. 
Young,  Matthew  J. 
Young,  Louisa  McA. 
Young,  Alice  V. 
Yonce,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  M. 
Yont,  Harry  N. 
Zellers,  William 
Zellers,  Mrs.  Hattie  C.  S. 
Zellers,  Anna  J. 
Zahnizer,  Richard  M.  J. 
Zahnizer,  Mrs.  Lill 
Zimmerman,  Mrs.  Hannah  E. 
Zimmerman,  Agnes  B. 


MEMRKRS  RECEIVED  AT  THE  FIRST    COMMUNION  AETER   THE  CENTENNIAL 


Bassett,  Albertine 
Bell,  Clifton  C. 
Bell,  Mrs.  Clara  Edith 
Byers,   Andrew 
Byers,  Mrs.    Malinda 
Conner,  Alex.  A. 
Conner,  Mrs.  Nannie  H. 


Goehring,  Eva  Lucinda 
Goehring,  Mary  Catharine 
Stutchel,  Bell  Eva 
Towell,  Jennie  Anna 
Towell,  Laura  Oliva 
Wallace,  John  W. 
Wallace,  Mrs.  Jennie  V. 


Princeton  Theological   Seminary   Libraries 


1    1012  01251    8413 


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